The organisation has been charged with implementing the timetable laid down by the government and media regulator Ofcom is completed on time, with all UK regions fully digital by 2012.
It will also be responsible for making ensuring the public knows the full details of the area-by-area process by which the analogue signal will be gradually turned off.
The group will be led by chief executive Ford Ennals, former-managing director of the Universal Music’s direct marketing division.
He said: “Digital television is a great UK success story – almost 60% of households have already made the switch.
“But moving the whole country to digital will be a great challenge.
“My first task will be to start a dialogue with television viewers, consumer groups and other important stakeholders to get their views so we can begin to shape our communication plans.”
SwitchCo is being funded by the BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Five, Teletext, S4C and the Crown Castle group, which operates the Freeview free-to-air digital system.
SwitchCo chairman Barry Cox said: “Communicating switchover to the UK public needs the leadership of someone with a strong background in marketing and communications.
“Ford Ennals’ experience in launching the new LloydsTSB brand, and his overseeing of the successful merger and integration of the two banks, makes him ideal to head the organisation.”
By Kevin May
Digital switchover group begins work
SwitchCo, the outfit formed by the government to aid digital switchover at the request of the UK’s terrestrial broadcasters, has started work today admitting the task ahead is “a great challenge”.
_1.jpg)
.jpg)
