Europe鈥檚 leading role in producing the technology needed for satellite
broadcasting and high definition television may have been jeopardised by
the British government鈥檚 sale of National Trans communications (NTL). The
company, formerly the engineering arm of the Independent Broadcasting Authority,
was bought by Mercury Asset Management, part of the investment bank S. G.
Warburg.
NTL owns patents on the Multiplexed Analogue Components (MAC) transmission
system, which lies at the heart of Europe鈥檚 future broadcasting plans. It
was made clear last week that the new owners will sell off 鈥榠ntellectual
property鈥� as part of plans to make NTL an attractive buy for shareholders.
Broadcasting minister Peter Lloyd confirms there will be no government control
over who buys the patents. They could, in theory, be sold to a Japanese
company. Japan has its own rival HDTV system.
European electronics companies are using a pool of MAC patents to control
imports of low-cost equipment from the Far East. They have introduced a
high levy on companies which want licences to manufacture MAC equipment
outside Europe. Their aim is to safeguard jobs in Europe and to keep the
Japanese at bay.
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The IBA鈥檚 engineering division was set up in 1954 to build transmitters
to serve Britain with commercial television and radio. It became renowned
for advances such as the electronic conversion of programmes between US
and European standards, surround-sound and digital video recording.
MAC is its most important development. It is the linchpin of plans for
Europe鈥檚 satellite broadcasting and HDTV. The European Commission is drafting
a directive to compel all Community satellite broadcasters to use MAC and
all electronics manufacturers to include MAC circuitry in satellite receivers
and large-screen televisions.
