What is Switchover?

Digital Switchover (also known as “analogue switch-off”) is the process of replacing analogue television broadcasts with digital TV. This means you won’t be able to watch the five terrestrial channels (BBC One, BBC Two, ITV, Channel 4 or S4C, and Five) through an aerial unless you’ve got a set-top box or a digital television set. For logistical reasons, they can’t make the switch all in one go, so the Switchover process will take place on a regional basis round the country. It is scheduled to be completed in 2012.

 

Why is analogue being switched off?

To generate funds for the Government. Because there’s only a limited number of frequencies available to broadcast television stations on, they’re much sought-after and therefore very expensive. Digital television makes more effective use of these frequencies, because you can broadcast more than one channel on each. Once all the analogue signals are switched off, the Government can sell the precious frequencies off to the highest bidders, but in most regions the analogue transmissions need to be switched off before the digital broadcasts can begin.

 

What do I have to do?

To continue watching television after Switchover, you’ll need some form of digital television. There are several options available, although not all services are available in all areas. Freeview gives you access to over 30 free channels through your aerial. You can convert your existing television with a set top box, or buy a digital television set (an IDTV). Freesat (launching 2008) and Freesat from Sky give you access to over 100 free channels via a satellite dish. Alternatively, there are a number of subscription services to choose from, such as Sky (satellite), Virgin Media (cable) or Tiscali TV (via broadband).

 

What about my VCR?

Switchover will affect each and every piece of audio/video equipment you own that receives analogue television signals. In other words, everything that contains an analogue tuner. They won’t stop working, but you may have to convert them individually to receive digital.

 

It’s important to draw a distinction between a tuner and a set’s ability to function. If your television only has an analogue tuner (the component which turns the signals from your aerial into pictures for your screen), then it will no longer be able to display analogue television pictures after analogue switch-off. But this does not mean it is useless: attach a Freeview box (which contains a digital tuner), and your TV will remain just as useful.

 

It isn’t just your television set which contains a tuner, however: if your VCR (Video Cassette Recorders) or DVD recorder could record from the analogue signals, this too will need to be replaced or converted. Note however that if converting (by plugging in a Freeview box), each and every piece of equipment will need its own box attached. As your existing equipment comes to the end of its working life, you can of course replace it with equipment already converted to digital television: a set-top box, digital recorder, a PVR or an IDTV.

 

For more information...

Have a look at our Digital Q&A section, or visit the Digital Spy forums.

 

 

The Switchover process will be completed based on the old ITV region you used to receive at home (eg: Central, Granada, Tyne Tees…) – have a look at the Switchover map to see when each region will switch. You’ll receive lots of information through the post, on television, in the local press and on local radio in the months and weeks before the switch.

 

On the first day of Switchover, transmissions of BBC Two will cease, and (usually) be replaced by ITV. This means you’ll find ITV on channel 2 of your TV set, rather than channel 3.

 

The space freed-up by the removal of BBC Two will be used to broadcast a set of digital channels, known as a multiplex. This will contain digital versions of BBC One, BBC Two. BBC Three, CBBC, BBC News 24 and Five.

 

This arrangement will continue for around a month, after which time all remaining analogue channels will be switched off and replaced with digital multiplexes. At this point, known as analogue switch-off, you will no longer be able to receive analogue channels, only digital television.

 

In Wales, BBC 2W will cease broadcasting altogether and be replaced by BBC Two Wales at switchover. S4C (the combined English and Welsh service) will also cease, and be replaced by S4C Digital, an entirely Welsh-language service currently broadcasting on Freeview, satellite and cable. It is as yet undecided as to how local channels such as Manchester’s Channel M will continue to be available after Switchover.
deeteetee.co.uk

Click here for Switchover map