Although a third of the country now has at least one digital set, two-thirds do not. If they've survived this long with just four or five channels, they may be content to go on with just four or five for years to come. Switched off The aim is to auction off the frequencies to other users like mobile phones companies. To get to that point may require some form of subsidy from the public purse. And even when every home has at least one digital set there will still be tens of millions of second, third and fourth sets in bedrooms and kitchens across the nation that will be rendered obsolete the day analogue transmitters are switched off.
Early indications are mixed.
Slow and clunky Sky's Open service has 37 main content providers, including retail chains like Woolworths and banks like HSBC, and 84 smaller ones. Research among digital subscribers suggests many find interactive services slow and clunky, with poorly designed sites and a disappointing range of products on offer compared with shopping online via the internet. Families report rows breaking out between those who want to use the household's only digital set for home shopping or sending e-mails and those who want to watch digital TV channels. Sky had 15,000 TV betting accounts and revenues from screen betting of 33m in the previous six months. The digital television has the potential to change beyond recognition the role of the box in the corner of the room, forcing us all to rethink our relationship with a device which for most of us dominates our leisure time and our leisure spending.