A Ministerial Written Statement from the United Kingdom's Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, Tessa Jowell, said "it is apparent that more concerted action by broadcasters, retailers and manufacturers, supported by Government and Ofcom, is required if the full benefits of digital television are to be made available to the whole population within the desired period."
Jowell's statement continued, "The Government has now written to the commercial terrestrial broadcasters and the BBC inviting them to engage with us and with Ofcom on how to achieve a complete switchover and to establish an appropriate timetable, in liaison with other stakeholders. The outcome of these discussions will be reflected in the digital licenses which Ofcom will grant to ITV companies, Channel 4 and 5, and in the BBC's Charter review."
The MediaGuardian Web site reported on the statement in the article "Jowell Wants Digital Switchover Date," which said, "The development comes after pressure from broadcasters and the media regulator Ofcom to set a firm date." The Financial Times"TV Talks Aim to Set Date for Switch to Digital."
