The switchover starts in Whitehaven, Cumbria in October 2007 and ends in 2012. It’s happening region by region, and to find out which TV region you’re in, you’ll need to check which ITV local news service you receive.
Once you’ve done that, you can check when your region switches at Digital UK’s website (www.digitaluk.co.uk).
What you’ll need
As each region switches over, the old analogue broadcast signal will be switched off. This means that your TV and any recording device will need to be equipped for digital television.
To find out exactly what kit you’ll need, try Digital UK’s digital TV switchover assistant which you can find on their homepage.
Finding a package to suit you
There are a variety of ways to get digital television – and it doesn’t necessarily mean you need to pay a monthly subscription, either. Some services, like Freeview (www.freeview.co.uk) simply charge a one-off payment to buy a set-top box, with no monthly outlay. Others will charge you a set-up cost AND a monthly subscription but often offer more channels in return.
If you can’t currently get Freeview in your area, don’t worry – it should work fine when it comes to switchover.
