Digitial Switchover Guide

What is Digital Switchover?

The Digital switchover is the biggest thing to happen in TV since the introduction of colour.  TV in the UK is going digital and the existing analogue TV signal will be switched off transmitter group by transmitter group until 2012. Switchover means that almost everyone will be able to receive digital TV through their aerial.
To keep your TV service, you will need to convert your TVs to digital before your area’s switchover date.  Anyone with a Freeview service will need to retune their digital TV or box at both switchover stages.

When do I switch?

Switchover has already begun and with Eric Alcock having stores across Staffordshire and Cheshire, some of our customers in the Granada region have already switched over and are currently enjoying the benefits of digital TV.  However, those of you who are in the Central television region will be switching over in 2011, so need to be prepared.  You can check the date of switchover and the TV services available in your area, e.g. Freeview, by using the postcode checker at www.digitaluk.co.uk.  The postcode checker is accurate to 100m squares, so you should enter your house number/name with your postcode.
Switchover happens in two stages to give people the chance to check their equipment. It is important you are ready by stage one. Anyone with a Freeview service will need to retune their digital TV or box at both switchover stages.

 

The Fenton Transmitter is switching over on 7th and 21st September 2011. This transmitter covers the Stoke-on-Trent and Newcastle-under-Lyme area so you will need to re-tune or upgrade your equipment before the 7th September in order to continue receiving television transmissions.

If you have already re-tuned or upgraded your equipment, as you are in a neighbouring transmitter area, please note that you may still need to re-tune again due to the overlap in transmitter signals.

Please contact us if you need any assistance on Tel: 01782 775858

Central Regions and switchover dates (as of October 2010):

Nottingham	the Nottingham area	30 March 2011	13 April 2011
Lark Stoke	the Stratford upon Avon area	6 April 2011	20 April 2011
Bromsgrove	the Bromsgrove area	6 April 2011	20 April 2011
Ridge Hill	Herefordshire, south Shropshire and parts of Gloucestershire	6 April 2011	20 April 2011
The Wrekin	north Shropshire and south Cheshire	6 April 2011	20 April 2011
Waltham	much of the east Midlands	17 August 2011	31 August 2011
Sutton Coldfield	much of the West Midlands	7 September 2011	21 September 2011
Fenton	Stoke-on-Trent and Newcastle-under-Lyme	7 September 2011	21 September 2011
Oxford	Oxfordshire, parts of Berkshire and Buckinghamshire	14 September 2011	28 September 2011

With Digital TV you can enjoy the five traditional TV channels plus lots more.  Most households will be able to receive around 40 channels, with all areas getting around 20 of the most popular channels such as ITV2, E4 and BBC Three.  You can choose to get Freeview or freesat for a one off payment or if you would like many more channels including movies and sport you may wish to opt for a monthly subscription service such as Sky.

How do I switch?

There are a number of ways to get digital television and both subscription and non-subscription services are available.

• Convert your TV yourself with a set-top box or digital TV recorder
• Have someone else convert your TV by installing satellite or cable
• Replace your TV with an Integrated Digital TV