Are you ready for the digital switchover?

By Colby Ramsey

THE BBC has announced the dates for the start of the digital switchover in the South East region of the country, establishing the agenda for the permanent shut down of analogue TV, but is the country really ready?


Between 20 May and 27 June 2012 the five analogue channels will be switched off over two stages at each transmitter group, boosting freeview signals and allowing thousands of homes to receive digital TV for the first time. Currently, freeview channels are only available from main transmitter sites, offering all those with a set top box or digital TV over 40 channels, yet this time next year more than 1,000 local relay transmitters will be digitally upgraded.

When exactly?

Stage one, which will be initiated in Canterbury and the rest of the South and East Kent area on 13 June next year, will see the switch off of analogue BBC two and the initial group of freeview channels becoming available from relay transmitters for the first time. Two weeks later the remaining analogue channels will be permanently shut down and replaced with further radio, text, and digital TV services, which is also currently available via cable, satellite and broadband. Tony Grant, 63, of Sturry, said: "Luckily I've got my son to help me out when the switchover happens, I'm no good with TV's myself. I think there's going to be a lot of confused older viewers come this time next year."

Area	Transmitter	Stage one	Stage two
East Sussex	Heathfield	30 May 2012	13 June 2012
Tunbridge Wells area	Tunbridge Wells	30 May 2012	13 June 2012
Hastings area	Hastings	30 May 2012	13 June 2012
South and east Kent	Dover	13 June 2012	27 June 2012
North and mid Kent	Bluebell Hill	13 June 2012	27 June 2012

After the switchover, 15 freeview channels including BBC One, BBC Two, ITV1, Channel 4 and Channel 5 as well as related services such as BBC Three and ITV2 will be broadcasted. A Switchover Help Scheme has been established to offer equipment and support to older and disabled viewers, which will write to those eligible closer to the switchover date.

To check channel availability in your area use the postcode checker at digitaluk.co.uk or call 08456 50 50 50. For further details call 0800 40 85 900 or visit helpscheme.co.uk.