Back to the future - Digital television and convergence in the United Kingdom

The introduction of digital terrestrial television in the UK exemplifies a globally representative change in media and communications policy whereby control of market entry has shifted from government to firms. In consequence, revision and reform of the institutional arrangements for media and communication regulation and the governing doctrines which inform media and communication policy are required. The transition from analogue to digital broadcasting offers significant potential efficiency (and revenue) gains to states but at the price of a potential consolidation of already significant market power enjoyed by dominant firms, Alternative methods for delivery of digital television are reviewed and established regulatory arrangements evaluated, The advantages and disadvantages of transition from an entry control to competition based regulatory paradigm are considered and the conclusion proposed that competition based policy and regulation is necessary, but not sufficient, in contemporary circumstances, (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All right reserved.