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Switchover bids now in
- 2 Mar 07, 03:27 PM
The closing date for tenders to run the “targeted help” scheme to help the elderly and disabled in the switchover to Digital TV from analogue has now passed.
It is thought that , and the technical support company, have all submitted proposals for the £600m scheme though it is possible that no one company will run the whole project.
This is a big, big decision for the Government to get right. As well as helping with things like installation and support, the winning bid will also need to be able to supply accessible set-top boxes capable of providing, for instance, audio description. This is all the more vital as , the only freeview set-top box that provides this, is due to be withdrawn from the market.
The Government has consulted with special interest groups such as the in drawing up the specifications of the scheme, to ensure that accessibility needs are met by whoever wins the bid. The Government should therefore be able to make an informed decision based on how each bid meets the requirements, and not just on cost. This is no time for penny pinching - making sure that the switchover leads to an improved service for all users groups would make a big difference to a lot of people.
The first contract is due to be awarded in June, and digital switchover begins in October 2007.
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