When is the Digital TV Switchover in the UK?
Switch From Analogue to Digital Television Complete by 2012
Oct 27, 2009
The digital switchover is the process of converting the UK's terrestrial television system from analogue to digital technology. Between now and the end of 2012 analogue channels will be switched off region by region and replaced with Freeview digital TV and radio services.
With an estimated 60 million television sets in the UK, switching to digital is a substantial undertaking, the biggest change in television since the introduction of colour. Digital UK, the company charged with implementing the switch, has already started work.
Timetable for the Digital TV Switchover
The timetable for the switchover to digital television around the country's television regions is as follows:
- West Country – Completed
- Border – Completed
- Wales – Underway - Started 12 August 2009
- Granada – Starts 4 November 2009
- West – Starts 24 March 2010
- STV North – Starts 5 May 2010
- STV Central – Starts 2010
- Channel Islands – Starts November 2010
- Central Starts 2011
- Anglia – Starts 2011
- Yorkshire – Starts 2011
- UTV (Ulster) – Starts 2012
- London – Starts 2012
- Tyne Tees – Starts 2012
- Meridian – Starts 2012
For the latter regions, Digital UK will have firmer dates closer to the time.
What To Do To Prepare For The Digital Switchover
Digital UK is running a £200 million information campaign, providing information to the public via a helpline (08546 50 50 50) and the Digital UK website. They report a high degree of awareness of the coming of digital, with a large number of households (22.7 million) having at least one television set already converted to digital.
Any television set can be converted to digital with a digital box. Those looking to buy a new television set should look for the “digital tick” logo which identifies equipment designed to work before, during and after the switchover.
The digital switchover is a two-stage process. At stage one, BBC Two will cease broadcasting in analogue and BBC digital channels will become available. Existing Freeview viewers will need to retune their equipment to continue receiving BBC digital channels. At stage two, the remaining analogue channels will be permanently switched off and replaced with digital services. Both new and existing Freeview viewers will need to retune at this stage.
There is a Digital Help Scheme to provide assistance to those who may have difficulty in switching to digital. This is aimed at those who are:
- are aged 75 or over; or
- get or could get Disability Living Allowance, Attendance Allowance, Constant Attendance Allowance or mobility supplement; or
- have lived in a care home for six months or more; or
- are registered blind or partially sighted.
The Benefits of the Digital Switchover UK
The switchover will make Freeview television channels available across the country. Most households will be able to receive more than 40 Freeview channels via an aerial.
Digital broadcasting is a more efficient way of transmitting television signals and will free up airwaves for new services such as ultra-fast wireless broadband and mobile television. Digital UK reports an estimated benefit of £5-10 billion to the UK economy from spectrum released by switching off analogue TV signals.
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