"charles" wrote in message

Channel 5 could have had full national coverage with out all the messing
about we endured later. And, in some places there would have been space
for a local channel.

Are you telling me that anyone would have missed Channel 5 had we not had
it? I agree that they way it was introduced was a politically-inspired mess,
but the best option would have simply been never to have had it at all. The
other uses to which the VHF spectrum released by the end of the 405-line
service have been of far greater value to the public than Channel 5 could
have ever been. As for local TV, have you seen it in those countries that
have it?

David.