Digital Switchover Comes To London

The London TV region will start the switch to digital today, as analogue channels start to disappear from the airwaves. The capital is one of the last regions to move to digital reception.

As the Crystal Palace TV transmitter in south London is switched off, it is expected to affect 12 million people. All premises with a Freeview TV or box will need to re-tune at both stages of Switchover, today and on 18 April. Incompatible TVs, or those without set top boxes, are likely to need an upgrade before they can receive new signal.

Get set for digital

BBC Two was the first analogue channel in London to be switched off. BBC One, ITV1, Channel 4 and Channel 5 will follow in two weeks.

Plans for the switch from analogue to digital TV were announced by the UK government way back in 1999. In 2005, an independent not-for-profit company, Digital UK, was established to coordinate the Switchover process. The benefits to digital terrestrial television include greater choice of TV channels (around 40), better quality picture, on-screen listings, interactivity, audio description and subtitling.

Some of the free radio spectrum previously used for analogue television will be repurposed for next generation 4G wireless networks. The perpetually delayed spectrum auction is due to be carried out by the end of this year.

According to the government plan, between 2008 and 2012, all television services in the UK will go completely digital. The switch will happen region by region. It began in Whitehaven in 2007 and will finish with Northern Ireland in October this year.

Switchover has already been completed in Scotland,Wales, and many parts of England.

In areas where analogue signals have been terminated, older receiving equipment is likely to require replacement or upgrade. This process is being subsidised by the government for those on low incomes.

Making a mountain out of a molehill, Digital Switchover was accompanied by a huge advertising campaign including TV spots, street advertisements, leaflet drops and roadshows, explaining how, and why, people should switch. The campaign was headlined by the now universally familiar Digit Al, a robot character created especially for Digital UK.

Worrying that some people will be unable to deal with the Switchover issues themselves, the government established a Help Scheme, administered by the BBC, for those who may need practical assistance.

“It’s still not too late to apply to get help in London. Applications for eligible older and disabled people to receive a range of aftercare and support to convert one TV can still be made up until 18 May,” Switchover help scheme regional manager Luke McCullough told the BBC.

According to the Guardian, one million TV sets, or one in 10 London households, are  not ready for the Switchover and will simply lose all channels until their TVs are converted.

Viewers can find more information on Digital UK’s website.

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