Switchover
Between 2008- 2012, television services in the UK will go
completely digital, TV region by TV region (The exception is
Whitehaven in Cumbria which became the first place to switch in
October 2007). The old analogue television signal will be switched
off and viewers will need to convert or upgrade their TV equipment
to receive digital signals, whether through their aerial, by
satellite, cable or broadband. The Government is responsible for the policy of digital
switchover, including the 2008-2012 timetable and the establishment
of a Help Scheme for those who may need practical assistance with
switchover.
Switchover in
North Wales is due to start at the end of October 2009
How do I Receive Digital TV?
Whether you receive your existing TV services by satellite,
cable, broadband or terrestrial (with an aerial), the chances are
you can change to digital whenever you want to.
Top
of the Page
Freeview
( Digital Terrestrial TV through an aerial, "DTT")
Digital TV can be received using a normal rooftop TV aerial. You
will need a set-top box to go with your existing TV set, or you can
buy a new digital TV set which is designed to pick up the new
digital signals.
About three-quarters of homes in the UK with a rooftop aerial
should be able to receive digital TV, although in a sizeable
minority of cases a new aerial will be required. This will be either
because digital signals are best-received from a different
transmitter, the digital channels are outside the band of channels
the aerial was designed for, or because the aerial and the down lead
are in poor condition. Very often in these cases an aerial which has
seen long service can pick up a reasonably acceptable analogue
signal but will not work with digital.
By the end of digital switchover digital transmissions will be
more powerful and everyone who currently receives analogue
television should be able to receive an equivalent digital signal.
Top
of the Page
Freesat
(Digital TV using a Satellite dish)
To receive digital satellite in the UK you will need a set-top
box to use with your existing TV set or a new digital TV set
designed to receive the digital satellite signals. You will also
need a Sky/Freesat dish on the outside of your house.
Digital satellite signals reach to the vast majority of UK homes,
but in a few cases reception may not be possible. This will be
because the satellite is hidden from your home by trees, high hills
or tall buildings, or because planning laws do not permit you to put
up a dish (for example, if your house is a listed building).
Freesat
has one advantage over freeview, as you setup the freesat box you
are asked for your post code, but you can put in any post code you
like, if you live in Wales but would like to receive North West news
put in a north west post code or a post code from where ever you
want to get your local news from, other regions are available from
further down the program guide.
Top
of the Page
Cable
(Not available in our area) Digital TV delivered by cable
- To receive digital TV via a cable connection you will need to
subscribe to one of the cable TV providers who will then provide you
with a set-top box to go with your existing TV set. Many districts are now served by digital cable services, usually
in towns and cities. The service provider will install a buried
cable connection between the main cable in the street and your
house.
IPTV
Digital TV delivered over your phone line
- Broadband is not only for the Internet. In some places it is
possible to receive high quality television services using the cable
that already connects your telephone to the exchange. This is a
separate service from broadband Internet or your telephone service
and you may need to contact a different supplier.
Top
of the Page
Do I need to buy a new TV?
No you can convert your existing TV, nearly all TV sets can be
converted to digital with a digital box. Either Freeview, Freesat or
Cable. Almost any TV can be converted with a digital box, even
televisions without scart sockets. Most, but not all, digital boxes come with scart sockets so make
sure you check if you television has one. If your TV was made after
1996 it should have a scart socket. If your TV does not have a scart socket, you must ensure that the
Set top box has an RF Modulator which means it will work without a
Scart connection. This means the digital box connects to the RF
input (aerial socket) on your television.
Top
of the Page
How much does switching cost?
The price will vary depending on the digital choices you make.
The things to consider are: The number of TVs in your home you
choose to convert. Whether you choose to pay one upfront cost or pay monthly for a
subscription service. Whether you choose to buy a standard digital box, an HD digital
box, an integrated digital TV (iDTV), or a digital TV recorder
(which will also convert your TV to digital). But as you can only
watch on channel per digital tuner, this would mean that you could
only record the channel you are watching. So a Digital TV recorder
with twin tuners might be the way to go, this will enable you to
watch one channel while you record another channel.
Top
of the Page
Ofcom is the
independent regulator and competition authority for the
communications industry, with a statutory duty to further the
interests and consumers in communication matters.
http://www.ofcom.org.uk/
This website explains why switchover is happening, and how we
will ensure that the process runs smoothly.
Top
of the Page
These are
some of the reasons given (by the government) for having Digital TV:-
Digital TV offers more
choice.
You can get more channels from the public service broadcasters
(BBC1, BBC2, ITV, Channel 4 and Five) as standard, the option of
paying for further channels, and a range of extra benefits such as
interactivity (often through the red button), on-screen TV listings
and wide screen pictures. Depending on how you choose to receive
digital TV, you could get a wide range of information services and
interactive features too.
Digital TV is clearer.
In most cases digital TV can improve the quality of TV pictures
and sound.
Digital television can be received in more ways.
Digital TV is more flexible than the old analogue television
system as you can pick it up on digital cable, digital satellite,
digital terrestrial or broadband/DSL.
Top
of the Page
The Digital
Switchover Help Scheme
The Digital Switchover Help Scheme
is
designed to provide practical help for those people who we expect to
have the most difficulty in making the switch to digital TV.
Further details of the Scheme are available
on the Switchover
Help Scheme website.
Details
of the Help Scheme are set out in a Scheme Agreement concluded
by DCMS and the BBC. The Scheme will be funded through the TV License
fee and estimated costs are around £603 million.
The BBC is responsible for delivering the
Scheme although day to day operation has been contracted out to eaga
plc. DSHS Ltd (a BBC subsidiary) will ensure that the contractor
delivers the scheme as set out in the Scheme Agreement. More details
can be found in the BBC
press release online.
The scope of the Help Scheme is based on
Government research that indicates that the eligible groups are the
least likely to have digital TV and the most likely to struggle with
adopting it. Some 7 million homes are expected to qualify for help,
although not all will choose to take it up.
The
Digital
Switchover (Disclosure of Information) Act enables the Help
Scheme to identify people who are eligible and write to them
directly inviting them to apply for help.
Top
of the Page
Digital UK is the independent not-for-profit company leading the
implementation of switchover.
www.digitaltelevision.gov.uk/
The Digital UK website answers
such questions as:
What is Digital Switchover? How do I make the switch?
When is it taking place? Where is it happening?