Concerns over ‘Freeview Lite’

Borders MP Michael Moore has expressed concern that some areas will not receive the full complement of Freeview multiplexes after digital switchover.
Current switchover plans will see three public service multiplexes made available to 98.6% of the UK population from over 1,150 transmitter sites by the completion of the process in 2012. However, the three commercial multiplexes will be broadcast from far fewer transmitter sites, and will reach 90% of UK homes.
However, commercial coverage will vary widely across the country: 93% of English homes will receive the multiplexes, with that number dropping to 88% in Scotland, 75% in Northern Ireland and 73% in Wales.

Some parts of southern England, mostly in the Meridian and Anglia regions, will also have patchy commercial multiplex coverage because of international frequency use restrictions related to French television broadcasts.
When the plan was announced, Ofcom said that the commercial multiplex operators are required only to ensure their coverage does not decrease during switchover, so it is powerless to require a more comprehensive coverage solution.