Television throughout the UK is changing, from the traditional analogue system, where transmissions are received through a standard TV aerial, to a new digital-only system.
Digital transmissions can still be received by an existing TV aerial, if it is connected via a set top box to your existing TV set, or to a replacement iDTV (integrated Digital TV) - but also via cable, satellite, or a telephone connection. This is essentially, what the digital switchover is all about, and if you do not convert, or replace, your TV equipment before the switchover you will not be able to receive TV channels afterwards.
When is the digital switchover happening?
The digital switchover is taking place gradually throughout the country. The first full-scale switchover took place in the Scottish Borders on 6 November 2008, and the process will continue through the TV regions until 2012. The Granada, West Country, and Wales TV regions are scheduled for switchover during 2009; West, Grampian, and Scottish during 2010; and so on.
How will the digital switchover affect you?
Most existing TVs can be adapted to receive digital transmissions via an inexpensive set top box, starting at around £40, or you might like to consider an iDTV, which is essentially a TV set with a digital decoder built in. A small percentage of households, estimated at between 2% and 10% may also require a replacement external aerial for satisfactory reception of digital TV signals.
You can get digital-ready TVs from stores including John Lewis.
The “digital tick”
The good news for consumers is that a special logo, or certification mark, known as the “digital tick”, has been developed so that digital TV products and services that will work up to and beyond the digital switchover can be readily identified - it’s bright pink.
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