The switch to digital affects everyone in the broadcasting industry. With the switchover date now set at 31 December 2012, we are working closely with broadcasters to develop innovative solutions for a cost-effective transition.

The timing and impetus originally came from the government, and since then the industry has been planning the digital transition. From the very beginning, we have been involved with Ofcom, the BBC and others - helping to develop the new digital spectrum, the transition plan, and the timetable for the process.

For fifty years we've been at the heart of broadcasting in the UK, delivering high-quality terrestrial transmission services to ITV since it began in 1955, and more recently to Channel 4 and Five. Since 1998 we have provided DTT services to Digital 3&4 and SDN, but our involvement in digital television began long before.

In the early 1990s, our research teams in Winchester developed and launched the first MPEG encoders for broadcasting. Later, we took a lead in demonstrating digital television to government and broadcasters.

Today we provide analogue and digital television and radio services to the broadcast industry. Our bespoke, cost-effective solutions range from terrestrial transmission to end-to-end services that include digital compression of programme signals and distribution via terrestrial means or our satellite infrastructure.

Alongside these day-to-day operations, we continue to innovate to help customers and the industry to benefit as broadcast services evolve.