There is much debate about what programme content will fill the newly available capacity generated by digital technology, including of course terrestrial digital. The deregulation of 'masthead' programming will result in a new source of high quality programming that will help to meet this need. Such programming decisions will only be taken if access to audiences of sufficient size justify the investment. Currently terrestrial television is the key to unlocking this investment opportunity. We acknowledge that there has been some progress in this area on cable and satellite but, from a publisher's perspective, this opportunity is quite limited and there is some understandable reluctance to make such investments for modest or questionable benefit.
Magazines have a well-developed, close and trusting relationship with their readers.
Transferring aspects of this relationship to terrestrial television will be to the mutual benefit of viewers and readers alike. The UK media industry is a diverse and pluralist one of high quality which is intensely competitive at a national and international level. To sustain its development it needs the capacity to grow and to export. The deregulation of masthead programming on terrestrial television will give it a new and competitive critical mass to assist these objectives. The maintenance of the status quo only provides an unnecessary constraint on its development without satisfying a consumer need.