Press Release Timeline
69 results.
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31-10-1996 ITC invites DTT multiplex licence applications
The Independent Television Commission published an invitation to apply for digital terrestrial television licences on 31st October 1996. Applications had to be submitted to the Independent Television Commission before 12.00pm on 31st January 1997.
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15-11-1996 ITC issues invitation to apply for multiplex service licence to Channel 3 and Channel 4
The ITC has issued today (15 November 1996) to the terrestrial broadcasters a formal invitation to apply for the licence to operate the second largest digital multiplex. The Channel 3 licensees, Channel 4 and Teletext Ltd are guaranteed capacity on this multiplex.
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31-01-1997 DTT multiplex licence applications deadline
Applications for digital terrestrial television multiplex licences had to be submitted to the Independent Television Commission before 12.00pm on this day. Applications were received by: British Digital Broadcasting PLC (BDB), Digital Television Network Limited (DTN), Digital 3 and 4 Limited, and S4C Digital Networks Limited (SDN).
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31-01-1997 Carlton, Granada, and BSkyB form British Digital Broadcasting
Carlton Communications PLC, Granada Group PLC and British Sky Broadcasting Group PLC announce the formation of a new joint company, British Digital Broadcasting PLC, which has today applied to operate three digital terrestrial television licences. Each shareholder will own one third of the new company.
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28-02-1997 Digital terrestrial - television of the future
Michael Green, Chairman of Carlton Communications Plc and British Digital Broadcasting PLC, was speaking at the 15th FT New Media and Broadcasting Conference in London today.
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24-06-1997 Multi channel television for all
British Digital Broadcasting today welcomed the decision by the Independent Television Commission to award the company three digital terrestrial television licences.
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24-06-1997 ITC announces decision to award multiplex service licences for digital terrestrial television
The ITC announced today it has decided to award each of Multiplex Service Licences B, C and D to British Digital Broadcasting PLC, which, following the withdrawal of BSkyB, will be jointly owned by Carlton Communications and Granada Group.
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05-08-1997 British Digital Broadcasting announces £200 million transmission plans
British Digital Broadcasting (BDB) has selected Castle Transmission International (CTI) to supply its transmission and distribution services. Test transmissions are planned for the end of this year.
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04-11-1997 British Digital Broadcasting's set-top box
British Digital Broadcasting (BDB) is today inviting manufacturers to tender for substantial initial orders for its set-top box.
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19-12-1997 British Digital Broadcasting granted licences
British Digital Broadcasting was granted today three licences to broadcast Digital Terrestrial Television throughout the United Kingdom. The licences are for an initial 12 years, renewable for a further 12. During this time the government is likely to switch off the analogue signal. The ITC's decision follows the European Commission's clearance of the joint venture between Carlton and Granada, who each own 50 per cent of British Digital Broadcasting (BDB).
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20-02-1998 British Digital Broadcasting selects conditional access system
British Digital Broadcasting (BDB) has chosen SECA to provide its Mediaguard conditional access system. This paves the way for BDB to place orders for digital terrestrial set-top boxes.
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08-03-1998 Nokia is chosen supplier to British Digital Broadcasting
UK production site will make Nokia set-top boxes for world's first digital terrestrial service
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09-03-1998 British Digital Broadcasting orders set-top boxes
British Digital Broadcasting PLC (BDB) has selected six leading manufacturers - Grundig, Pace, Philips, Nokia, Sony and Toshiba - to make its "plug in and play" set-top boxes. The boxes will be in shops for BDB's launch in the last quarter of this year.
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29-03-1998 British Digital Broadcasting launches retail helpline
British Digital Broadcasting (BDB) has launched a Retail Helpline for retailers to obtain more information about Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) and BDB in the run up to launch at the end of this year.
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08-05-1998 DiviCom selected by British Digital Broadcasting for UK terrestrial television project
DiviCom, a Division of C-Cube Microsystems Inc. (Nasdaq: CUBE), a leading international provider of compression systems for digital television, today announced that British Digital Broadcasting PLC (BDB) has selected DiviCom to supply headend compression and multiplexing equipment at its digital terrestrial television (DTTV) broadcast center located in central London. BDB has announced that broadcasting from this center is currently scheduled to begin in the last quarter of 1998.
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08-05-1998 British Digital Broadcasting on target for launch
British Digital Broadcasting Plc (BDB), Britain's largest commercial digital terrestrial broadcaster, is on track to launch in the last quarter of this year.
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19-05-1998 British Digital Broadcasting selects the digital interactive technology from CANAL+
British Digital Broadcasting (BDB), the world’s first digital terrestrial service to be launched before the end of 1998, has selected the MEDIAHIGHWAY interactive system from CANAL+, Europe’s first supplier of digital broadcasting technology with over 1.6 million installed set-top boxes and 65 percent of the marketplace. Back in February, BDB already chose the conditional access system MEDIAGUARD from Société Européenne de Contrôle d’Accès, a joint venture between CANAL+ and Bertelsmann.
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26-05-1998 ITC grants multiplex A licence to SDN
The ITC granted today (26 May) Multiplex Service licence A to SDN Ltd, a jointly owned company in which NTL, S4C and United News and Media hold equal shares.
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12-06-1998 Retailers rush to sign up to British Digital Broadcasting
British Digital Broadcasting Plc (BDB) has received thousands of applications in just two weeks from retailers to sell set-top boxes for digital terrestrial television. Registration forms were mailed out at the beginning of the month.
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20-07-1998 British Digital Broadcasting selects subscriber management system
British Digital Broadcasting Plc (BDB) has selected Wiztec Solutions to provide its WIZARD Subscriber Management and Billing System to support customer care and billing services for BDB's Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) services, the first DTT service in the world. This appointment is another key step towards BDB's launch in the Autumn this year.
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22-07-1998 BDB hires Ashley Faull as Executive Director of Broadcasting
British Digital Broadcasting Plc (BDB) today announced that Ashley Faull will join its Board as Executive Director of Broadcasting. He will be responsible for programming strategy, deal negotiation and the on-air look of BDB.
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10-08-1998 ONdigital appoints Head of Media and Public Affairs
ONdigital, has appointed Andrew Marre as Head of Media and Public Affairs. Andrew will be responsible for all communication to press and opinion formers. He will work closely with Jessica Mann, ONdigital's newly appointed Director of Communications.
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24-08-1998 ONdigital awards on-screen identity contract
ONdigital, the world's first digital terrestrial pay-TV service, has appointed CIA, the newly formed Creative Identity Agency, to design its on-screen identity. ONdigital formally known as British Digital Broadcasting (BDB) revealed its new brand name, designed by identity consultants Wolff Olins, last month. CIA's task will be to extend ONdigital's brand name and values onto screen. They will work in conjunction with Dunlop Woods.
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08-09-1998 ONdigital announces sales team appointments
ONdigital, the world's first digital terrestrial pay television service has established its sales and account management team with eight new appointments. This highly experienced team will guide retailers through all aspects of the ONdigital subscription package and technology. The team report to Doug Goodwin, ONdigital's director of sales.
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14-09-1998 ONdigital appoints Head of Presentations and Promotions
ONdigital has appointed Dean Stockton as Head of Presentation and Promotions. Dean started his career as a graphic designer working for the BBC, Channel 4, BSkyB and Carlton. In 1994 he received the gold US Promax award for Best In-House TV Campaign. He then turned his hand to directing - television programmes, corporate films and commercials for clients including Disney, Dorling Kindersley, Associated Newspapers, McCann Erikson, Seagrams, Panasonic and Nintendo. In 1996 his direction and production of Scratchy and Co, the children's ITV saturday morning show, was awarded Producers Choice in the 1996 Broadcast awards.
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24-09-1998 Come and see the future live with ONdigital
This week ONdigital is showing off at Live 98 at Earl's Court, giving thousands of visitors to the show the first chance to see live ONdigital test transmissions, being received on the stand on operational set-top boxes - on public show for the first time. And Lee Hurst and a team of top comics will entertain them at the ONdigital Comedy Club, on the stand.
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28-09-1998 ONdigital announces channel packages and launch date
ONdigital announced that it is to launch its digital service on the 15th November, and also unveiled the package deals for its new service.
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08-10-1998 Pace receivers launch BBC Choice digital channel
To support the launch of the BBC's new digital TV channel, BBC Choice, Pace Micro Technology provided both the digital satellite and terrestrial receivers for the BBC, to enable a live demonstration at launch.
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15-10-1998 Anthony Sethill to leave ONdigital to return to manufacturing industry
Anthony Sethill, commercial director of ONdigital, is to leave the company. He will be succeeded by Jim Ratcliffe of Granada Home Technology, whose appointment is announced separately today. Anthony will assist in the handover until 30 November.
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15-10-1998 New Commercial Director for ONdigital
Jim Ratcliffe, managing director of Granada Home Technology, has been appointed Commercial Director of ONdigital, in succession to Anthony Sethill. He will join with immediate effect.
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28-10-1998 People want to know more about ONdigital
120,000 people have responded to ONdigital's national press advertisements, in the three weeks since ONdigital announced its programmes and pricing. This demonstrates clearly the level of interest in digital TV.
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10-11-1998 CANAL+ TECHNOLOGIES and the world's first digital terrestrial television service in the United Kingdom
The world's first digital terrestrial television service, which started broadcasting in the United Kingdom on November 15, is supported to a great extent by CANAL+ digital technology.
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13-11-1998 ONdigital ready for transmissiON
ONdigital, the world's first digital pay television through an aerial, goes on air, as promised, on 15 November, less than eleven months after the grant of its licences. ONdigital brings viewers 30 of the best TV channels from the BBC, Carlton, Granada and Sky.
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17-11-1998 ONdigital launch weekend success
ONdigital, the newly launched digital terrestrial pay television service reports a fantastic first forty-eight hours. Demand in the high streets for the ONdigital set-top boxes was phenomenal. Telephone lines to the company's call centre have been buzzing all weekend with over 75,000 calls since the first boxes were sold on Saturday.
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08-12-1998 ONdigital secures tyson comeback fights
Exclusively free live coverage of Mike Tyson's first two fights will be available only to ONdigital subscribers. ONdigital - launched on 15 November as the world's first digital pay television service through an aerial - will be the only UK broadcaster to show Tyson's heavyweight clash with South African Francois Botha free and live on January 16th from Las Vegas.
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12-01-1999 Frank and 'arry - back in action for ONdigital's Tyson return
They're the most famous double act in British boxing. And this weekend Frank Bruno and Harry Carpenter will be working out of the same corner for new broadcaster ONdigital as commentators for Mike Tyson's eagerly-awaited return to the ring.
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15-01-1999 Live, free cricket for ONdigital customers: India-Pakistan tests and one-day series captured
ONdigital's subscribers will get 17 days of live top cricket this winter, free. The India v Pakistan cricket series will be exclusively live and free to ONdigital subscribers, including two Tests (28 January - 1 February and 4 8 February) and a triangular one day series, the Pepsi Cup. This includes Sri Lanka, the current one day World Champions, and involves 7 matches between 19 March and 3 April.
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20-01-1999 Buy an ONdigital box now - pay later
ONdigital, the world's first digital terrestrial commercial broadcaster, is making a special offer to new customers. Anyone buying a set top box between now and 14 February can take it home with nothing to pay for the box for at least six months.
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01-02-1999 Premier League live and free through an aerial: ONdigital brings even better value to new customers
ONdigital will bring even better value to customers buying set top boxes and subscribing to ONdigital. They will get Sky Sports 1 free for six months, a saving of up to £11 a month, with Sky Sports 3 free as a bonus. They also receive it through their TV aerial with no need for a dish or a cable.
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16-02-1999 UEFA Champions League 1999-2003 - live for ONdigital customers: Live British matches on Thursday nights
From autumn 1999 ONdigital will be the only place you can be sure to see both the UEFA Champions League and the FA Carling Premiership live. The revamped UEFA Champions League will be televised live in partnership with ITV for the next four years by ONdigital.
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23-02-1999 The only way to get British Eurosport digitally is ONdigital
Eurosport's dedicated British service, British Eurosport, which officially launches its new service and new logo on 1 March, is available exclulusively in digital format through ONdigital.
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08-03-1999 ONdigital - making history, showing history being made
History has already been made in ONdigital's first two exclusively live and free sports events.
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17-03-1999 ITC & BBC announce agreement for new phase of digital terrestrial frequency planning
The Independent Television Commission (ITC), the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC), National Transcommunications Limited (NTL) and Castle Transmission International (CTI) announced today that they have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) which jointly commits them to develop further the frequency plan for digital terrestrial television within the UK.
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24-03-1999 Formal warning for Carlton and Granada groups for unreasonable discrimination against BSkyB
The ITC today (24 March 1999) issued a formal warning to the licensees in the Carlton and Granada groups (Carlton, Central, Westcountry, Granada, Yorkshire, Tyne Tees and LWT) for unreasonable discrimination against BSkyB.
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24-03-1999 ITC announces decision on the supply of ITV2 to digital satellite
The ITC announced today that it had concluded that there were no grounds for requiring ITV to supply ITV2 for digital satellite distribution. This followed an investigation of a complaint made by BSkyB that ITV’s refusal to supply ITV2 was anti-competitive and detrimental to the availability of a wide range of services. However, the ITC reserves the right to re-examine the situation at a future date, should market conditions change to a significant extent.
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24-05-1999 Teralogic supplies graphics technology for Toshiba's CANAL+ MEDIAHIGHWAY-certified, UK terrestrial digital tv set-top box
TeraLogic, Inc., a leading developer of technology solutions for digital television (DTV), announced today that its TL750 IC is providing the graphics and video processing capabilities in Toshiba's terrestrial digital TV set-top box that recently received certification for CANAL+ MEDIAHIGHWAY version 4.1.
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09-08-1999 ONdigital scores with Manchester United and Arsenal live, every Champions League match shown in full - and new ONgoals programme
ONdigital will not only show every Manchester United and Arsenal Tuesday night UEFA Champions League match live and exclusive, it will also bring its subscribers every UEFA Champions League match - 157 matches in all.
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08-09-1999 New appointment at ONdigital
Simon Dore, Director of Channel Development at Granada Media, has been appointed Operations Director of ONdigital. He was previously Director of Broadcasting at GSB and before that was Managing Editor at BBC Worldwide.
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17-09-1999 ONdigital welcomes Chris Smith's switch-over announcement
Commenting on Chris Smith's announcement today that analogue switch off will begin no later than 2010 and possibly as early as 2006, ONdigital Chief Executive Stuart Prebble says:
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28-09-1999 Delay to introduction of audio description services on digital terrestrial television
The ITC has agreed to a delay of up to six months to the introduction of audio description services on Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) on the basis of information received from ONdigital (on behalf of The Digital Network), who have been working together with the Royal National Institute from the Blind (RNIB) on the production of the plug-in modules required to enable reception of audio description. The ITC understands that these modules will now not be available in time for the launch of audio description in November 1999.
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29-09-1999 Help for the flat dwellers from homesONdigital
ONdigital has set up homesONdigital to help the 6.7 million householders who have or may have shared aerial systems.
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28-10-1999 Open-standard digital TV sets: ITC requires ONdigital to commit to firm timetable
The ITC has required ONdigital to commit to a firm timetable for the public availability of the plug-in conditional access modules which will enable their services to be received on open-standard integrated digital TV sets. The ITC will audit a set of agreed interim milestones towards a latest final launch date of May 2000.
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07-09-2000 The BIG Listings Co. lands ONdigital magazine contract
The BIG Listings Co., the television listings specialists, announced today that ONdigital TV Guide has joined its growing list of prestigious clients. The BIG Listings Co. will produce the magazine's 124 television listings pages. Their first issue will be September 2000.
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18-09-2000 ONnet hits the streets with more than 40 brands on board
ONnet, ONdigital's new television Internet service, launches today with 47 brand names to be established on its portal.
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20-09-2000 Tennis ace Kournikova fells Hurley in net smash
Russian tennis star Anna Kournikova has been voted most 'clickable' female, beating off all challengers - including Brit rival Elizabeth Hurley.
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26-01-2001 New Technical Director for ONdigital
Naomi Climer has joined ONdigital in the new post of Director of Technical Operations. Reporting to Simon Dore, ONdigital's Chief Technical Officer, Naomi takes responsibility for technical operations across both Information Systems and Engineering at ONdigital's sites in Battersea, Pembroke and Plymouth.
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08-02-2001 ONdigital licenses Macrovision copy protection technology for ONrequest, the digital pay-per-view service
Macrovision UK Ltd, a subsidiary of Macrovision Corporation (NASDAQ: MVSN), the world leader in digital rights management announced today that ONdigital, the UK's first and largest digital terrestrial television provider, has licensed Macrovision's pay-per-view copy protection technology for use on ONrequest, the pay-per-view service it jointly owns with SDN.
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10-07-2001 Comedy double act to front the launch of ITV Digital, Johnny Vegas and newcomer Monkey set to storm the nation
TV history is littered with comedy duos who have left their indelible mark on the nation: Peter Cook and Dudley Moore, Morecombe and Wise, French and Saunders, The Two Ronnies, to name a few. Some might add Cannon and Ball. ITV Digital (formerly ONdigital) has signed up the hottest new comedy duo to front its launch advertising campaign. Johnny Vegas, whose one-man show is the wow of comedy festivals at home and abroad, and Monkey... a friendly chap from Muppet-makers The Jim Henson Creature Shop.
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10-07-2001 ITV to rebrand as ITV1
ITV Network is to be rebranded as ITV1 later this year to reflect the extended family of brands created by the alignment with digital terrestrial platform ONdigital. ITV Chief Executive Stuart Prebble today announced the rebranding strategy, and confirmed that ONdigital will become ITV Digital on 11 July. ONnet, the internet on TV service, will become ITV Active from the same date.
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01-10-2001 Raids
A computer shop in the Thanet area of Kent was raided by the Tactical Unit of Kent Constabulary supported by FACT (Federation Against Copyright Theft) on 24th September.
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27-03-2002 ITC responds to ITV Digital announcement
The Independent Television Commission (ITC) notes the statement issued today by the Board of ITV Digital and the appointment of Deloitte and Touche as administrators.
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25-04-2002 ITC statement on ITV Digital
Following the announcement from Deloitte and Touche that the Administrator intends to undertake a short term sale process for ITV Digital's business assets, the Independent Television Commission (ITC) issued the following statement on Thursday, April 25.
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30-04-2002 ITC to re-advertise ITV Digital licences
The Independent Television Commission (ITC) today, April 30, confirmed that the Administrator had surrendered the three multiplex service licences currently in the name of ITV Digital.
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16-05-2002 ITC confirms expressions of interest
The ITC today (May 16) confirmed that it has received a number of expressions of interest following the retendering of the three digital terrestrial multiplex licences formerly owned by ITV Digital.
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21-05-2002 DTT: extension to deadline
The Independent Television Commission (ITC) has received requests from some of those who have expressed an interest in the multiplex digital terrestrial licences to extend the deadline for tender applications.
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04-07-2002 ITC announces decision on digital terrestrial television
The Independent Television Commission (ITC) announced today (Thursday, July 4) that it has made a conditional decision to award Multiplex Service Licence B to the BBC and Multiplex Service Licences C and D to Crown Castle.
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09-08-2002 ITC consults on options for change in DTT transmission
The ITC is today (Friday 8 August) inviting comments on options for change in the transmission mode for digital terrestrial television (DTT).
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16-08-2002 ITC grants DTT licences to the BBC and Crown Castle
The Independent Television Commission (ITC) has today (Friday, August 16) granted the digital terrestrial television (DTT) Multiplex Service Licence B to the BBC and Multiplex Service Licences C and D to Crown Castle.
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20-09-2002 ITC Reaches interim decision on DTT transmission mode
The Independent Television Commission (ITC) is today amending its technical standards to authorise those digital broadcasters who wish to broadcast in '16-QAM' transmission mode to press ahead. This follows the readvertising of licences for three digital terrestrial multiplexes and the success of tenders based on the '16-QAM' transmission mode.