Highfield outlines BBC's views on programming in the digital future: at this year's International Broadcasting Convention, Ashley Highfield, BBC director of new media, spoke of the impact of digital on TV viewing and programming

New Media Age, September, 2003 by Jonathan Webdale

Despite fewer people perusing the stands of interactive TV companies at this year's International Broadcasting Convention in Amsterdam (NMA 18 September), the industry should take some comfort from the keynote speech by BBC director of new media Ashley Highfield.

In 'The Impact of Digital Lifestyles on the Media', Highfield described the UK as being at a "tipping point", with more people having digital TV than not and more connected to the Internet than not.

For the iTV industry--which new Sky Interactive MD Ian Shepherd described at the IBC as being "gun-shy, almost apologetic"--Highfield's choice of the phrase 'tipping point' may have left an uncomfortable ring in some ears.

But rather than suggesting some gaping abyss on the other side of...