 What is Digital Switchover?
The countdown to the change in how television signals are sent and received across the UK is beginning. Wales will be the first nation in the UK to complete the switchover which will begin in 2009 when the analogue signal will be replaced with digital.
Starting in 2008 and ending in 2012, television services in the UK will become completely digital. This process is known as the Digital Switchover.
This process will involve switching-off of the analogue terrestrial TV transmissions network which has been in place since the 1930s and this will be replaced by an all-digital terrestrial network. At the moment digital and analogue signals are broadcast simultaneously. But whilst the analogue signal is maintained, the digital signal can't be broadcast in full and at full power across the UK allowing everyone to receive a digital signal.
This process is happening in order to provide every household in the UK with the benefits of digital TV services and it will also enable the Government and Ofcom to free up the airwaves and launch new services in the future, such as High Definition TV (HDTV).
Over recent years the benefits of Digital TV have transformed the way we watch television in the UK. It has brought many more TV channels, improved picture quality, new ways of providing services and improved accessibility options for those with visual and hearing impairments.
The digital switchover will happen TV region by TV region and for North Wales 2009 is the year when HTV Wales, Granada, BBC 1 Wales etc. will be switched over to digital. In order to be ready for this process, and if you haven’t done so already, you will be required to convert your television equipment to digital. To do this you have 4 options:
- Obtain a digital box and plug it in to your TV (these are also now integrated in some new televisions)
- Subscribe to a digital cable service
- Subscribe to a digital satellite service
- Subscribe to a service which delivers digital TV through a telephone line
It is appreciated that not all of these services may be available in your area and by using the postcode checker at www.digitaluk.co.uk, you can find out your options. Alternatively you can get advice from any electrical retailer and look for the digital tick sign indicating (see logo below) that they have goods or services designed to help people with the digital switchover.
For further detailed information and frequently asked questions about Digital Switchover, please use the links shown below.
Useful links
www.digitaluk.co.uk (This website contains a postcode checker to see whether services are available in your area)
www.digitaltelevision.gov.uk
Wrexham Digital TV Service
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