techUK challenges Digital UK’s levy on Freeview PlayThe imminent launch of Freeview Play will open up increased access to content from catch-up services provided by the public service broadcasters. However, as part of the introduction and integration of this technology into televisions and other reception devices, Digital UK is requiring manufacturers to pay a charge for enabling of this service on consumer products.
techUK strongly believes that free-to-view services, however consumed, should remain free and that the enabling technologies and hardware should not be subject to any additional fees or levies.
Paul Hide, Director of Operations for techUK said: “We welcome the planned introduction of the Freeview Play service as we move towards a new generation of TV user experience and content consumption. We are however, very concerned that the introduction of this service comes at a significant cost to hardware device manufacturers who are already investing in considerable R&D effort to develop new products to meet the Freeview Play requirements. This product levy is an additional cost that will ultimately be passed onto the consumer. The viewer has already paid a TV licence fee to access these services and this undermines both the concept of free to view television and the founding principles on which Digital UK was created.
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http://advanced-television.com/2015/05/05/techuk-challenges-digital-uks-levy-on-freeview-play/
