The internet TV revolution will only become a reality when the UK’s
broadband network is upgraded to allow speeds of at least 30 Mb – the current rate is around 4Mb.

That’s the view of broadcaster and journalist, Andrew Neil, who was one of the keynote speakers at this year’s Digital Channels Conference, sponsored by Astra.

Speaking at the event, which was held at The Royal Festival Hall, London, the former editor of The Sunday Times, said that internet TV has not yet become an everyday phenomenon simply because the UK’s broadband speed is too slow.

“Thirty Mb is the speed at which broadband becomes the default for viewing TV, but at 50 Mb the whole thing reaches a tipping point. According to Ofcom, these speeds are almost a decade away from becoming a reality in the UK.

“Hardware manufacturers like Sony, Sharp and Panasonic are already selling TVs with built-in internet connections in anticipation of the tipping point.”

Mr Neil also called for a complete fibre optic cable upgrade of the existing UK broadband network.

Commenting on how the mainstream take-up of internet TV would affect the broadcasting industry, Mr Neil said: “When the broadband revolution takes off, then we will see the end of the traditional broadcasting networks like ITV, CBS and NBC. It is unlikely that ITV will survive on its own.

“If it is to survive, it will need to find a convivial home under the umbrella of a Yahoo, a Google or a Microsoft.”

Mr Neil also sounded the death knell for the traditional BBC TV licence fee.

He claimed it would survive “one more round”; saying that as more people use their PCs and laptops to watch TV content, a new type of TV licence would have to be introduced.

Levying a tax on computers, quipped Mr Neal, would be like reintroducing the window tax of the 17th century - only this time around, it would be a tax on Windows.

“In the future, TV schedules will be a thing of the past. I will be able to watch whatever I want when I want to,” he said.

Mr Neil concluded, however, that brand names like the BBC would still be important.