The Digital Switchover

The digital switchover is happening now. We are  seeing TV signals switching from analogue (sending TV signals through airwaves) to digital, where signals are converted to small packets of information before being sent through an aerial, satellite, cable or phone line.

The digital switchover will make TV access easier for everyone as channels become more available. The channels that will be available to all after the digital switchover will include the public service channels BBC One, BBC Two, ITV1, C4 (plus S4C in Wales) and Five, plus digital channels such as ITV2, E4 and BBC Three.  The picture quality will be better, too.  You must convert all the TVs in your home; otherwise you won’t be able to watch TV anymore.

The digital switchover is happening at this very moment, and the analogue to digital switchover will be completed by 2012.   Whitehaven in Cumbria was the first place to switch in October 2007, and the UK will be completely digital when the switchover finishes with Tyne, Tees and Ulster in 2012.

Digital switchover – why is it happening?

The majority of UK homes currently have digital TV, but one in four cannot get it via their aerial and many still cannot receive Channel Five. Only by switching off the existing analogue TV broadcast system is it possible to boost the digital signal and get it to parts of the country that can’t currently receive it. Digital TV is also more efficient and less likely to suffer from interference. But more importantly, digital TV brings lots of very real benefits:

You get extra TV channels, which come as standard.
You can subscribe to other channels .
The quality is much better.
You will also be able to use a range of new features that you may not have already, such as interactive TV.

You don’t need a new TV set to get digital services but you may, however, need to get some additional equipment that will connect to your existing televisions.  The digital switchover depends on what type of TV you have. Here’s what you’ll need for the different types of digital TV to get digital switchover ready:

If you have a digital terrestrial TV you need a digital set-top box or a new television with built in digital (known as an integrated digital TV or IDTV).  You may also need to replace your terrestrial aerial with a digital aerial.

For digital satellite TV you need a satellite receiver and satellite dish, both of which will be provided by the satellite broadcaster you choose.

To receive digital cable (still not available across the whole country) you need a connection to a cable system with an indoor decoder box to take the signal and turn it into TV. The digital TV provider you choose will supply both of these.

If you get a good picture on your screen now your aerial will more than likely be fine. However, you may require an upgrade or new cable connections if you decide to get Freeview.

Digital TV will give more frequencies for better mobile phone service and more broadband for the internet.  It is beneficial for all of the UK to switch to digital broadcasting.

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