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The government yesterday said it has begun the process of setting a date for switching off Britain's analogue television signal.
Tessa Jowell, the culture secretary, said she has written to all terrestrial broadcasters asking them to come up with an "appropriate timetable" for the switchover to a fully digital system.
The development comes after pressure from broadcasters and the media regulator Ofcom to set a firm date.
Previously the government said it wanted to phase out analogue broadcasts between 2006 and 2010.
Ms Jowell said yesterday that more than half the country has access to digital TV signals and the 2010 deadline "remains attainable". She said broadcasters needed to work harder to persuade viewers of the benefits of digital TV.
"It is apparent that more concerted action by broadcasters, retailers and manufacturers - supported by government and Ofcom - is required if the full benefits of digital television are to be made available to the whole population within the desired period," she said.
Ms Jowell said the BBC and the commercial public service broadcasters - ITV, Channel 4 and Five - had a "lead role" to play in the process.
"They have an established relationship with virtually all Britain's households and are therefore uniquely placed to ensure a smooth transition to digital broadcasting. They will also benefit from reduced costs and from the ability to offer consumers a wider range of services."
Discussions have already taken place between the broadcasters, Ofcom and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport about how the 2006/2010 timetable can be achieved.
At the moment, there are 80 transmitters that could provide digital terrestrial signals to 93% of households. But technical complexities mean that 1,000 further transmitters would be required for the rest, at possibly prohibitive costs.
Negotiations are under way about whether the broadcasters could pay for several hundred more transmitters, leaving the few remaining households to be covered by satellite.
If that happens, ITV, Channel 4 and Five would have to pay for "smart" cards that would allow viewers to receive their signals via satellite without having to sign up for a subscription to Sky.
Tessa Jowell, the culture secretary, said she has written to all terrestrial broadcasters asking them to come up with an "appropriate timetable" for the switchover to a fully digital system.
The development comes after pressure from broadcasters and the media regulator Ofcom to set a firm date.
Previously the government said it wanted to phase out analogue broadcasts between 2006 and 2010.
Ms Jowell said yesterday that more than half the country has access to digital TV signals and the 2010 deadline "remains attainable". She said broadcasters needed to work harder to persuade viewers of the benefits of digital TV.
"It is apparent that more concerted action by broadcasters, retailers and manufacturers - supported by government and Ofcom - is required if the full benefits of digital television are to be made available to the whole population within the desired period," she said.
Ms Jowell said the BBC and the commercial public service broadcasters - ITV, Channel 4 and Five - had a "lead role" to play in the process.
"They have an established relationship with virtually all Britain's households and are therefore uniquely placed to ensure a smooth transition to digital broadcasting. They will also benefit from reduced costs and from the ability to offer consumers a wider range of services."
Discussions have already taken place between the broadcasters, Ofcom and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport about how the 2006/2010 timetable can be achieved.
At the moment, there are 80 transmitters that could provide digital terrestrial signals to 93% of households. But technical complexities mean that 1,000 further transmitters would be required for the rest, at possibly prohibitive costs.
Negotiations are under way about whether the broadcasters could pay for several hundred more transmitters, leaving the few remaining households to be covered by satellite.
If that happens, ITV, Channel 4 and Five would have to pay for "smart" cards that would allow viewers to receive their signals via satellite without having to sign up for a subscription to Sky.