Are you ready for the digital switchover?

TV in the UK is going digital, and the existing analogue TV signal will be switched off transmitter group by transmitter group between now and 2012. Switchover means that almost every household will be able to receive digital TV through their aerial giving many people access to a wider choice of channels.

When do I switch?

When you switch will depend on which transmitter group you receive your TV signal from. The London TV region has 1 transmitter group, made up of a main transmitter and its local relays.

The Crystal Palace transmitter group, serving Greater London and parts of the Home Counties, will switch to digital in two stages. If you haven’t  yet got digital TV in your home or you have a service like Freeview, BT Vision or Top Up TV, there are two dates you will need to remember and you need to be ready before the first switchover date.

Stage 1: 04 April 2012                       Stage 2: 18 April 2012

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.

If you live in an area that overlaps with an adjacent TV region or transmitter group, you may be getting your service from a different transmitter that may switch at another time.

To find out when you switch visit the Digital UK postcode checker.

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

Remember to convert every TV set that you want to continue watching before your switchover date. If you decide to get new equipment, look for TV sets, digital boxes and digital TV recorders that carry the ‘digital tick’ logo. It identifies products and services designed to work through switchover.

What do i need to do next?

Freeview, BT Vision or Top Up TV – You will need to re-tune your digital TV or box at switchover

Sky TV, Freesat from Sky, freesat or Virgin Media – If you have this service on all your TV sets, you won’t need to do anything

Analogue TV (five channels or fewer) – You will need to convert your TV or you will lose channels at switchover

Retuning

Switchover is a two-stage process. If you have, or are planning to get Freeview, BT Vision or Top Up TV, you will need to retune your digital box or TV:

• At each of the two stages of switchover
• If you find you have lost any TV channels

• Retuning regularly is good practice. This ensures that you keep equipment up to date, and that you have all of the latest channels.

How do I re-tune?

1. Switch on your Freeview TV or box and press ‘menu’
2. Select ‘set up’ or ‘installation’
3. Select the ‘full re-tune’ option (sometimes called ‘first time installation’, ‘factory reset’ or ‘default settings’). Selecting ‘channel update’ or ‘add channels’ will not fully clear old channels and enable new ones to be found.
4. Press ‘OK’ if your equipment asks if you want to delete all your channels. Don’t worry this is normal.
5. If you are prompted for a code, try 0000 or 1234
6. Channels will automatically be installed. This may take a few minutes and your equipment may shut down and restart.

What channels will I get?

With digital TV, you can enjoy the five traditional TV channels, plus lots more.

All viewers who receive Freeview services will get around 15 channels with most receiving more than 40 channels depending on where they live. To find out which ones you are likely to receive visit the Digital UK postcode checker. If you’d like a greater choice of channels, you should consider a subscription service through satellite or cable and receive up to around 400 channels.

How will recording be affected?

If you currently own a video or analogue DVD recorder, it will continue to record and playback videos or DVDs; however it won’t allow you to watch one channel and record another at the same time.

If you want to continue doing this, consider getting a digital TV recorder with a ‘twin tuner’ that will also convert your TV. The most popular type records directly onto a hard disk, but there are other options, including recorders that record onto DVDs.

Is your TV aerial ready for the digital switchover?

Any roof top aerial in good condition is capable of receiving analogue and digital TV services. You don’t need to have a ‘digital aerial’ for switchover. If you have good analogue reception now it is unlikely you will need to replace your existing aerial. If you think you need to repair or replace your aerial, ask for a recommended installer.

Switchover Help Scheme

If you are eligible, the Switchover Help Scheme will be in touch in plenty of time to ask if you want help.

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