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18/09/03
Intellect agrees that Digital TV is 'tough but doable' Intellect, the UK association for the IT, telecommunication and electronics industries, has today (Thursday) voiced support of the Rt Hon Tessa Jowell's speech to the Royal Television Society, and the Government’s strengthened commitment to the digital switch over.
Peter Hamblin, Chairman of Intellect's Digital Television Manufacturers Forum said, "Intellect very much welcomes the speech by the Secretary of State which emphasises the Government's commitment to completing digital switchover by 2010.
Tessa Jowell has reminded us all of the challenges ahead but manufacturers fully agree with her judgment that it is 'tough but doable'.
Industry's partnership with Government has been hugely important to the progress the UK has made so far and as we move to the Implementation phase we shall need to adapt and enhance the current family of working groups which bind us so that collectively we can deliver digital switchover on schedule."
The Government's plan to consult with industry and the public in 2004, in order to effectively develop a strategy for switching over, has also met with agreement from Intellect members who feel that whilst the market plays a key role, it cannot, and indeed should, not be left solely to the market to manage the transition.
Concluding Hamblin said, "Industry is committed to working side by side with Government, but if sensible planning and realistic timescales are to be put in place then the transition to digital television will need to be co-ordinated by Government, through a central Implementation Agency. It is via this route that consumer demand will be created, that manufactures will be able to deliver, and that switch over by 2010 will be achieved."
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