The Digital Switchover, What’s Happening? (Again!)
Many people are confused by what is happening with terrestrial television and the “digital switchover”. The name “digital switchover” has worried a vast majority of people and we believe the term “analogue switch off” is a clearer description of what is actually going to happen.
Currently the new digital channels are being broadcast alongside the 5 existing analogue channels – BBC1, BB2, ITV, Channel 4 and Five. When the “digital switchover” happens the 5 analogue channels will stop being broadcast and all terrestrial television will be available through the digital Freeview system.
At present there are 87 TV and radio channels broadcast through Freeview including the existing five terrestrial channels. To view the Freeview channels you will need either a digital set-top box, an integrated digital television set or digital recording equipment. You can tell that a piece of equipment is suitable for viewing Freeview by looking for the DVB logo, digital tick symbol or Freeview logo.
If you have equipment capable of viewing Freeview channels but suffer from break-up of the picture, pixelation or missing channels then you may need a new aerial. If you have problems and have had a new aerial fitted then it may not be installed correctly or you may be in a poor signal area. If you view your TV through cable or satellite then the digital switchover will not affect your viewing.
For properties in poor signal areas or owners of High Definition LCD or Plasma television sets there is the FreeSat service, a joint venture between ITV and the BBC. This provides access to over 200 free television and radio channels, including BBC HD and ITV HD, through a standard satellite dish with no monthly subscription. Equipment capable of receiving the FreeSat signal is marked with the FreeSat logo.
The benefits of the Freeview and FreeSat systems are that they provide more channels, a clearer picture, better sound and improved information services (similar to Teletext). So, get ready for “digital switchover”, enjoy the benefits and bring on the digital age!
For more information about the “digital switchover” visit www.digitaluk.co.uk or www.freeview.co.uk. For more information about FreeSat visit www.freesat.co.uk. To find a quality local installer visit www.cai.org.uk.
