The Advanced Television Services Regulations 1996

PART II ADVANCED TELEVISION SERVICES

Transmission of wide-screen services on digital networks

4.—(1) Any person operating a fully digital transmission network open to the public for the distribution of television services shall have the duty to ensure that that network is capable of distributing wide-format services.

(2) The requirement set out in paragraph (1) above shall have effect as if it was set out as a condition in every licence to run a telecommunication system granted under section 7 of the 1984 Act which authorises (however expressed) the provision of telecommunication services comprising transmission of digital services to viewers.

Standards for transmission systems used by the BBC

5.—(1) This regulation applies to all television services provided by the BBC which–

(a) are transmitted to viewers in the Community whether by cable, satellite or terrestrial means; and

(b) which are–

(i) in wide-screen format;

(ii) in high definition and not fully digital.

(2) Without prejudice to section 142 of the 1996 Act (which implements the provisions of Article 2 to the Directive concerning transmission systems in relation to every licensed service as defined in subsection (7) of that section), the BBC shall do all that it can to secure that all television services to which this regulation applies use a transmission system complying with the said Article 2.

Television sets to have open interface

6.—(1) No person shall in the United Kingdom sell or rent out, or offer or expose for sale or rent, a television set to which this regulation applies unless that television set is fitted with at least one open interface socket (as standardised by a recognised European standardisation body, where a standard has been adopted by such a body and is in force) permitting simple connection of peripherals, which includes, without prejudice to the generality thereof, additional decoders and digital receivers.

(2) This regulation applies to any television set with an integral viewing screen of visible diagonal greater than 42 cm except a television set which was put on the market for sale or rent in the Community before 23rd August 1996.

Redistribution by cable of wide-screen services

7.—(1) Wide-screen television services which are received by, and re-distributed on, cable television systems shall be re-distributed on such systems at least in the wide-screen 16:9 format.

(2) The requirement set out in paragraph (1) above shall have effect as if it was set out in every local delivery service licence.