The Digital TV Switchover & what it means to you
Television in Great Britain is changing over from the current analogue system into digital transmission only. Unless you take the steps to adjust your television to getdigital signals then you will be left out in the cold. That means that you will no longer get any TV channels. This is what is known as the digital switchover. It will happen in the UK between the years 2008 – 2012. You still have enough time left to switch over to digital viewing. However, approximately 66% of the households in the UK are already using digital television.
What is digital switchover?
The change of TV broadcasting from analogue into digital form is called digital switchover. This will occur in the UK region by region between the years 2008 and 2012. After the switch takes over in your region, you will have to convert or upgrade each TV set that you continue to watch.
After completion of the switchover, as well as the channels that you now have ( BBC1 and BBC2, ITV, Channels 4 and 5) you will have the choice of adding some additional digital channels which include BBC3, BBC4; ITV2, ITYV3, E4, CBBC, More4, Cbeebies and BBC News 24.
Why is the switchover happening?
The switchover means that more people will not only enjoy the benefits of digital TV but this will make a wide range of digital TV options more affordable. Until this switchover is complete, that means about 1 in 4 UK households are not able to get the full range of digital TV services available FREE through an aerial. That means that 1 in 5 households in the UK are not able to get e5 through their aerial.
When the digital switchover takes place, it is believed that the best technology will be in use. Additional space will also be made for new services such as high definition TV as well as broadcasting to mobile phones.
When is the digital switchover happening?
Digital switchover will take place in the UK TV region by TV region beginning with the Border TV08 and will end in Ulster around 2012. That is the confirmed dates for the switchover to be completed.
Do I need to get a new TV?
The answer to that question is “No.” Almost any television can be converted if you have a digital box. That goes even for black and white sets without scart sockets. Your TV either has to have an RF input or a scart. Unfortunately, if your television does not have either one of these inputs, it will not be able to be converted to receive digital TV. Most of the digital TV boxes come with scart sockets. Just be sure to check your TV to see if it has one. If you television was manufactured after 1996, it will definitely have a scart socket.
If your television does not have the scart socket, you will be able to buy a digital box that fastens to the RF input on your TV. Humax, Commtel, Thomson and Linsar are just a few of the manufacturers that now produce these.As far as your options go, an electrical retailer will be able to further advise you. The most important thing is to make sure that the box comes equipped with an RF Modulator, which means that your TV will work even without a scart connection.
Other Digital TV Options
Sky |
BT Vision |
Virgin Media |
Top UP TV |
Tiscali |
What are these?