Analogue TV signals will be switched off for more than two million households this year, allowing hundreds of thousands of homes to receive Freeview channels for the first time.
In total, 14 switchover operations will see digital extended across the West TV region, parts of Wales, the north of Scotland and the Channel Islands.
To mark the 100-day countdown to switchover in the West TV region, Digital UK and the Switchover Help Scheme took to the road in an ‘analogue detector van’ last month. Digit Al, the switchover robot, accompanied the van to Bristol and Bath, advising viewers who risk losing TV channels when the two-stage process starts on 24 March. Switchover will complete in the region on 7 April.
The Switchover Help Scheme got well and truly off the ground in 2009, with more than 250,000 older and disabled people receiving practical help to switch to digital TV. It also launched a range of new community initiatives designed to raise awareness of the help available, via Ramadan radio stations, the Police and Fire Services, football clubs, mobile libraries and Meals on Wheels. This year the Help Scheme will draw on the results of its annual consultation research to further improve communication of its benefits to those who most need help.
Following switchover in the north west of England, some Freeview viewers in the Granada TV region have been finding Welsh TV services listed ahead of English ones on their channel list. Advice on prioritising preferred regional services is available at digitaluk.co.uk/retuning or viewers can call 08456 505050.
