Concern over Digital Switchover Help Scheme

A row has broken out over the selection process for free or subsidised set-top boxes given to people as part of the digital television switchover.

The Government-appointed Consumer Expert Group (CEG) on the digital switchover, Intellect and the Supply Chain Group (SCG) are concerned that the Digital Switchover Help Scheme (DSHS) does not “provide a level playing field”.

They claim that Sky was selected as the provider for the ITV Border region over other set-top box manufacturers because the DSHS places too much emphasis on cost, over the other requirements agreed by the Government.

Laurence Harrison, director of consumer electronics at Intellect and joint chairman of the SCG said: “Although other service providers complied with the requirements, Sky, which did not, was still chosen because of cost.”

The DSHS gives people who are disabled or over 75 a set-top box for a one-off fee of £40, or free if they are receiving benefits. Before choosing a provider, the DSHS says it evaluates offerings from providers in each region and the scheme is “vendor neutral".

Alison Hopkins, senior policy officer at the National Consumer Group and a member of the CEG said this was not the case. She said other providers such as Freeview, which met all the requirements, such as one-button access to subtitling in place, were “miffed” as to why Sky's service was chosen.

She warned that by choosing Sky over other set-top box manufacturers, the DSHS could “set a dangerous precedent amongst other competitors” who could argue that the core criteria was “no longer binding”.

The CEG and SCG also warned the deal, which is funded by £603m of BBC license fee money, could confuse the target group.

This is because Sky plans to give people two months free access to the personal recorder service Sky+ and to some pay channels.

Customers are then left to decide whether to continue receiving these services by taking out a subscription or to settle for a free package without the extras.

“People might not understand why they have to pay extra for services they were originally given and might pay out to keep the original package,” added Ms Hopkins.

The Department for Culture, Media and Sport, which oversees the scheme, said it was carefully considering the issues.