(19 September 2007 2:00 pm)

MUMBAI: The BBC Trust Unit in the UK has published its Public Value Assessment (PVA) of the BBC's proposals for a high definition television channel.

The PVA is one part of the Public Value Test (PVT) that the BBC Trust is conducting into the BBC Executive's proposals for a HDTV channel. The Market Impact Assessment (MIA), carried out by Ofcom and also published forms another part.

The PVA concluded that overall that the service proposal would deliver a medium to high level of public value, but proposed some conditions.

BBC Trust head of finance, economics, and strategy Christopher Woolard said, "The PVA concludes that the proposed service would significantly promote the BBC's public purpose of ‘helping to deliver to the public the benefit of emerging communications and services’. However, the PVA highlights some issues about the relative public value of a more limited service on DTT compared to other platforms.

"The Trust will consider these findings along with those in Ofcom's MIA document before reaching its provisional conclusions, which we expect to publish on Tuesday 25 September."

The service would also deliver good value for money, according to the PVA, which said its cost was relatively low compared to the value created from the service.

However, the PVA raised some concerns about the relative public value offered in terms of the reach, quality and distinctiveness of a four hour service on DTT. For this reason, the PVA recommends that it would be preferable for the BBC to deliver a nine-hour service on DTT equivalent to that on cable and satellite at the earliest opportunity within the BBC's existing DTT capacity.

Much will depend on Ofcom's proposed re-organisation of broadcast multiplexes and therefore a review of HD on DTT should be made in early 2008 when Ofcom's position will be clearer.

The PVA also recommends that, in the event of the proposals receiving approval, certain service conditions should be considered to safeguard the public value of the proposals put forward and to help strive for greater public value.

These are:

- The service should launch on Sky and digital cable platforms as soon as possible after any PVT decision and on Freesat from platform launch.

- The channel should broadcast the best of HD content from other BBC channels between 19.30 and 22.00 and not just simulcast BBC One.

- The operation of any DTT service should comply with the BBC Parliament service licence and commitments previously given to Parliament.

- The service should be reviewed after 2012 following the digital switchover.

Following the publication of the BBC Trust's provisional conclusions, there will be a four week period of public consultation. The Trust expects to publish its final decision on the BBC Executive's proposals for a BBC HDTV channel on or before Wednesday 21 November.