The UK broadcasters for cable, satellite, and terrestrial television have a
ll recently launched digital services to deliver new channels and services
to the home. Early in 1998, BT Broadcast Services won the contract to suppl
y to the majority of the UK terrestrial broadcasters the network that would
distribute the digital television signals fi om the studios to the transmi
tters located around the UK. This contract secured BT's position in the UK
television distribution market. To win this business, BT Broadcast Services
had to commit to deliver the DTTV network to a very tight schedule so that
the broadcasters could achieve live programming for the all-important Chri
stmas 1998 market.