Digital UK has announced further details of the timetable for digital television switchover in three regions of the UK. In line with the start dates announced by Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell in September 2005, Digital UK has published individual switchover timings for transmitters serving more than 4m households in West Country, Wales and Granada.
West Country
In Q2 2009 the Beacon Hill transmitter, serving south Devon Stockland Hill, south-west Somerset, parts of west Dorset and south-east Devon, including Exeter
In Q3 2009, the Huntshaw Cross ytransmitter, serving north Devon Redruth, serving west Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly Caradon Hill, serving much of Cornwall and Devon, including Plymouth.
Wales
In Q3 2009: Preseli, serving south-west Wales and Carmel, serving south Wales. In Q4 2009: Llanddona, serving north-west Wales, including Anglesey; Moel-Y-Parc, serving north-east Wales
In Q1 2010: Blaenplwyf, serving west and central Wales; Long Mountain, serving east-central Wales; Wenvoe, serving south-east Wales, including Cardiff.
Granada
In Q4 2009: The entire Granada region will switch to digital in this quarter, when the Winter Hill transmitter and its dependent relays – serving Lancashire, Merseyside, Greater Manchester and Cheshire, are converted.
At switchover, each transmitter will cease broadcasting analogue television services and begin transmissions of high-power digital signals, making digital TV through an aerial (Freeview) available to virtually all homes.
Currently, one-in-four households cannot receive digital television via an aerial. Digital UK, the independent body leading switchover on behalf of UK broadcasters, is running information and assistance campaigns in the three years leading to switchover in each region. Information booklets are being delivered to every home along with advertising on television, radio and in regional publications.
News from Witsview:
Sharp
Between the July to September period, Sharp posted a operating profit of 49.7 billion yen ($416.9 million), which was a 26 percent jump. The company’s sales increased 7 percent, reaching 771.9 billion yen. The general manager of Sharp’s AVC liquid crystal display group, Shigeaki Mizushima, indicated that the company anticipates global LCD TV demand to hit 150 million units during fiscal 2010.
Lite-On Technology
Lite-On Technology has dismissed reports that the company is planning to downsize or sell its LCD monitor business unit.
BenQ
BenQ has posted a net loss of NT$12.22 billion for Q3,2006. This is the fourth straight net quarterly loss for the company. The company expects demand for its LCD monitors, projectors and handsets to pick up in September. The company reported that its core business sales reached US$556.92 million in June, which was a 78 percent increase compared to last year. However, its LCD display revenues were roughly the same, due to weakening demand worldwide.
CPT
At the Yokohama FPD International show, CPT showcased a 47 inch TV panel that is capable of producing a contrast ratio of 80:000:1 via LED technology. In addition, the company also displayed a 32 inch LED-backlit panel that does not require a color filter.
Mike McTighe, Chairman of Pace Micro Technology plc, gave the following
update at the Company’s AGM today:
“I am pleased to say that the business is on track to meet the Board’s
expectations for the 2006/7 financial year, with orders and shipments
flowing across all regions.
Competition between payTV operators to retain and acquire new
subscribers is strong and is driving demand for our new and existing products as the migration to digital continues. Consumer demand is growing for solutions that offer high definition and PVR. The major issues from last year regarding new product delivery to our US customers are now largely resolved and shipments to these customers are ramping up. We have also secured new business from both new and existing customers in the rest of the world, which supports our outlook for the year.
“The new management team, led by Chief Executive Neil Gaydon, remains
focused on profitability through the improvement of gross margins,
maintaining the pressure on costs and ensuring on time product delivery.
This year’s implementation of a new company structure, which has reshaped Pace’s business more around our customers, has been a key enabler towards achieving these goals.
“These changes will allow us to deepen existing customer relationships,
place us in a stronger position to secure new business and
operationally will ensure greater effectiveness in the design, manufacture and delivery of new products. We expect to see the full benefits come through
over the next 12 to 24 months, given the nature of product development
cycles in our industry.
“There is still much work to do, but the changes that have been made are
already creating a more motivated and accountable organisation, thereby
enabling more predictable engineering delivery. I would like to thank
all Pace employees for their hard work in supporting the restructure,
while continuing to meet ongoing customer needs.
“In conclusion, Pace has turned the corner after a difficult period and
is beginning to make solid progress.”
