The Culture, Media and Sport Committee will publish its Second Report, Analogue Switch-Off (HC 650) on Wednesday 29 March 2006. The report will be available via the parliamentary website from 3pm on the day of publication.

Ofcomwatch recently interviewed the committee’s chairman, John Whittingdale, MP, the section of the interview relating to digital switchover is here. See our interview series for a full transcipt of the interview.

Please note that this interview reflects Mr Whittingdale’s personal position rather than the official position of the Culture, Media and Sport committee as a whole.

The inquiry�s terms of reference were announced by press notice on 19 July 2005:

The Culture, Media and Sport Committee has decided to inquire into the Government�s proposals to switch off analogue terrestrial television broadcasts over the period 2008-12. The Committee is particularly interested in the following issues:

The policy objectives and economic benefits of digital switchover, and the relative roles of the different platforms in the delivery of digital television;

The feasibility of, and the steps needed towards achieving switchover to the Government�s timetable and with sufficient geographical coverage;

The costs associated with the digital switchover process and how these are to be met;

The protection of vulnerable groups in terms of financial and practical assistance.