BBC Parliament in fullscreen on digital terrestrial television

The quarter screen picture on BBC Parliament on digital terrestrial television is unacceptable and these important public service broadcasts should be given as large a picture as any other television channel. A reduced picture size is acceptable for some interactive services - the news multiscreens being a fine example - but for a full time channel the situation is very different. Those switching to digital were promised 8 BBC channels - not seven and a quarter.

The current problems whilst watching on a 4:3 TV illustrate the downfalls of broadcasting in such a format and watching on a small television has become very difficult, and on-screen text is almost illegible.

BBC Parliament should not be treated any different to other BBC channels due to ratings - one of the BBCs important attributes is that it can broadcast in ways which serve small parts of the viewing public, but to whom such services are highly appreciated and the explanation on the Help section of the BBC Parliament text service that Capacity limitations are the reason for the quarter screen picture is clearly not the whole story.

The BBCs two full screen interactive channels, 701 and 702, lie empty for much of the time and when in use often broadcast the same program as on another BBC channel with extra information in the form of graphics and text. Such effects can be recreated using MHEG digital text and this could free one of these channels for use by BBC Parliament.

Such a move would not merely benefit those who enjoy BBC Parliament but could add to the number of News Multiscreens from two to four, letting this service more closely mirror that offered by the digital satellite version of BBCi.

In conclusion this move is not just desirable but essential in satisfying the needs of the viewing public and we feel a move to make BBC Parliament full screen should be treated by the BBC as a matter of priority.