Digital Switchover

The Digital Switchover has arrived and is happening right now. The Switchover involves turning off of the traditional analogue signal and the introduction of the new digital terrestrial TV signal. Once the old analogue signal is switched off, viewers across the UK will be able to benefit from improved picture and sound quality as well as availability of channels such as Five. There will also be the potential to launch a greater number of channels and broadcast more programmes in high definition (HD).

The Digital Switchover will affect all viewers who have televisions through which they can only receive analogue services BBC1, BBC2, ITV, C4/S4C and (where available) Five services through the TV aerial. Some video cassette recorders will lose some functionality; for example they will no longer facilitate time-shift recording or record a different channel to that being viewed.

To receive TV services after switchover, all these televisions will need to be converted either by the purchase of a set-top box, or by the purchase of an integrated digital television (IDTV) which has an in-built digital tuner. There are a number of free-to-air no subscription digital TV platforms such as Freeview and Freesat, subscription-based pay-TV packages provided by Sky and Virgin Media and IPTV platforms such as BT Vision and Tiscali TV which provide a mixture of free to air and pay-per-view elements.

You will also still be able to record shows with a digital TV subscription - set-top boxes and services marked with a '+' symbol such as Sky+ or Freeview+ for example, will allow you to record and store digital TV programmes directly to your set-top box. This eliminates the need for blank tapes and DVDs as well, meaning less living room clutter.

It will take around four to five years to complete the switchover process. It will take place on a regional basis (based on broadcast regions, Granada, Anglia etc) with the last regions - which are London, Meridian, Tyne Tees and UTV - not switching over until 2012.