Uk’s first TV switchover complete in Whitehaven
Filed Under Country Curtain | Posted on January 12, 2008
Related ItemsEast Midlands affordable housing TV campaignWhitehaven in Cumbria today became the first area of the UK to switch to all-digital television services.
The last three analogue television channels (BBC1, ITV1 and Channel 4) were switched off locally at 02:00 am. At 03:27 am, 20 Freeview channels and 10 radio stations started broadcasting to 25,000 households in and around Whitehaven.
Ford Ennals, chief executive of Digital UK, the independent body co-ordinating switchover, said:
%26quot;I%26#39;m delighted that today thousands of people in Whitehaven will be able to enjoy the great choice and extra features that digital TV has to offer. This is a big day both for the area and for television in the UK, and I%26#39;d like to thank all those who have helped ensure the first switchover has gone smoothly.
%26quot;Our immediate priority is to make sure assistance is available to those who need it. I%26#39;d like to reassure the few people who have yet to switch, or who may need advice on issues such as retuning their new equipment, that we%26#39;ll be on hand in the coming weeks to provide practical support.%26quot;
Digital UK is running help centres at four locations across the Whitehaven switchover area. The centres, run in partnership with Age Concern Northwest Cumbria, provide advice and practical assistance with digital TV equipment.
Assistance can also be found at www.digitaluk.co.uk
Across the UK, one-in-four households are currently unable to receive digital television through an aerial. Between 2008 and 2012 switchover will extend digital TV coverage via an aerial across the whole country.
The next area to switch over will be the Scottish Borders in November 2008, followed by the West Country, Wales and Granada in 2009.
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