Instant Expert Guide to… digital switchover part 2
What's actually going to happen?
That depends on just how old it is and whether or not it has a SCART connection. Though the SCART connection has been used in TV sets in France since 1977 and has been a legal requirement of all new French TV sets since 1980, it wasn't common in UK TV sets until the mid-Nineties. Digital set-top boxes will connect to your TV via a SCART connection, though a few will also be able to connect to older TVs without SCART sockets. These will connect using the RF connector – the small, round socket the analogue aerial connects to – and the quality won't be as good, so it's worth buying a new set if you don't have a SCART input.
Many very new television sets have digital tuners built in, so check whether yours is capable of receiving a digital signal before you buy a set-top box. Also, bear in mind that every set in the house will need a set-top box or have a built-in digital tuner.
Your existing roof aerial should be perfectly adequate for receiving a digital signal, but in a minority of cases you may need to have your aerial replaced. This is likely to cost about £100, but if you receive an adequate analogue signal at the moment then there is a very high likelihood that your aerial will be compatible. You can check your aerial's readiness to receive digital signals after the switchover by visiting page 284 of Teletext on any analogue channel.
What new services will I get?
You'll be able to get the BBC's digital channels, BBC Three and BBC Four, as well as ITV 2, 3 and 4. Channel 4's additional channels, E4 and More4 are also free-to-air, as is its film channel, FilmFour.
Other channels will be available too, though these will vary by region – a postcode checker on the Digital UK website will tell you exactly which ones, though this service will not be launched until later this year. There will also be some paid-for channels that you will have to subscribe to.
When will the analogue signal be switched off in my area?
That depends on which area you live in – the switchover is taking place TV region by TV region. Whitehaven in Cumbria is a special case, being the first area to have the analogue signal turned off, but the rest of the Border region is due to go digital in 2008.
In 2009, Granada, Wales and the West Country regions will be switched over; the West, STV Central and STV North regions will switch in 2010, with Central, Anglia and Yorkshire in 2011. Finally, in 2012, the London, Meridian, Ulster and Tyne Tees regions will have their analogue signals turned off.
The reason for going region-by-region is that some 1,000 transmitter masts need to be upgraded and it isn't practical to attempt this in a shorter period than four years, according to Digital UK, the not-for-profit organisation in charge of the switchover.
Does this affect radio broadcasts as well?
Yes and no. You will be able to receive digital radio through your set-top box and TV, but no date has yet been set for the switch off of analogue radio transmissions in the UK. Industry regulator Ofcom has said that it will review AM radio transmissions in 2009 and FM transmissions in 2012, but has said that it would be “foolish” to commit to a date right at the moment.
Where can I find out more?
Digital UK's website offers information on what people need to do to prepare for the move the digital, and when they need to do it.
Virgin Media has recruited Royle Family star Ricky Tomlinson to star in an online video broadcast teaching customers about the digital switchover.
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Instant Expert Guide to… digital switchover part 2
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Claire Woffenden, Editor
