What is the digital switchover?

The digital TV switchover is the process of turning off the UK’s analogue TV signal and replacing it with a digital signal.

To keep your TV service, you will need to convert your TVs to digital before your area’s switchover date.

Television signals can be received through an aerial, satellite, cable or broadband connection. The digital switchover affects TVs that receive their signal from an aerial.

If you use an aerial, it will receive its signal from a transmitter. In the UK, there are more than 1,150 transmitters organised into around 80 transmitter groups that switch to digital one by one. Each group has a main switchover transmitter and local relay transmitters.

Before the switchover, local relay transmitters are only able to transmit an analogue TV signal. After switchover, all transmitters will transmit a digital signal and increase the number of channels available from around 5 to around 15.

When will the switch happen?

For the majority of our homes, the new signals will switch on by April 2012. Most existing rooftop aerials are already able to receive digital services and won’t need replacing. 

If you live in one of our blocks and your aerial does need replacing, we will do the work by April 2012. If you live in a street property, it’s your responsibility to replace the aerial if you need to. 

After all the works have been done, if you can’t get a signal it’s because your TV needs converting. Most TVs can be converted – even black and white ones. You just need to buy a digital box which connects to the TV using a SCART cable. If your TV doesn’t have a SCART socket, you’ll need to get a box with built-in ‘RF modulator’.

For more information, visit www.digitaluk.co.uk or call 0845 50 50 50