James Delahunty
17 Mar 2010 0:44
The UK broadcasting regulator has rejected Channel Five's request for capacity on Freeview's Multiplex B. Ofcom was not convinced that Five was fully committed to HD broadcasting. Under the rules, the bandwidth will now be allocated to the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC).
Ofcom has to assign Freeview HD capacity to non-commercial broadcasters if the bandwidth is not being used by commercial broadcasters. Five was unable to clearly inform Ofcom of when it will begin broadcasting HD or how it plans to maintain a daytime HD schedule.
Ofcom is believed to have been planning to give the bandwidth to Channel 4 or S4C instead, but both also failed to commit to a service that would meet Ofcom's requirements.
Five will now have to wait until 2012 when Ofcom will again allow commercial broadcasters for pitch for HD capacity.