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<blockquote data-quote="FRAZER" data-source="post: 24067" data-attributes="member: 175135">Here is part of a reply I received from the culture department today;&quot;...Once the existing cards are disabled, access to these services will cease and in the longer term it could be that the commercial public service channels may consider alternative arrangements if they wishto continue to provide free-to view access to their services by satellite.I should clarify that there are provisions in the Communications Bill,presently before Parliament, empowering OfCom to require/approve theprovision of arrangements to ensure reception of a 'must provide' satelliteservice (as defined in the Bill and subject to modification by the Secretary of State). However, we hope that this situation can be satisfactorily resolved without the need to use legislation.Finally, you will wish to know that Tessa Jowell has written to therespective Chief Executives of ITV, Channel 4, Channel 5 and BSkyB seeking clarification regarding their position over current and future free-to-view access to their services on digital satellite. We will publish the results of those enquiries on the digital television website<a href="http://www.digitaltelevision.gov.uk" target="_blank">www.digitaltelevision.gov.uk</a> as soon as it is possible to do so.&quot;So it seems that at present the government are relying on some impetus from the relevant channels themselves to resolve the issue; which I fear could mean a period of inaction, unless the matter is felt to be&nbsp; sufficiently important for them to force the issue.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="FRAZER, post: 24067, member: 175135"] Here is part of a reply I received from the culture department today; "...Once the existing cards are disabled, access to these services will cease and in the longer term it could be that the commercial public service channels may consider alternative arrangements if they wish to continue to provide free-to view access to their services by satellite. I should clarify that there are provisions in the Communications Bill, presently before Parliament, empowering OfCom to require/approve the provision of arrangements to ensure reception of a 'must provide' satellite service (as defined in the Bill and subject to modification by the Secretary of State). However, we hope that this situation can be satisfactorily resolved without the need to use legislation. Finally, you will wish to know that Tessa Jowell has written to the respective Chief Executives of ITV, Channel 4, Channel 5 and BSkyB seeking clarification regarding their position over current and future free-to-view access to their services on digital satellite. We will publish the results of those enquiries on the digital television website [url]www.digitaltelevision.gov.uk[/url] as soon as it is possible to do so." So it seems that at present the government are relying on some impetus from the relevant channels themselves to resolve the issue; which I fear could mean a period of inaction, unless the matter is felt to be sufficiently important for them to force the issue. [/QUOTE]

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