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The Digital TV Switchover

The digital TV switchover is in full swing, and every region of the UK will be switched from analogue to digital TV before the end of 2012. Many areas of the country have switched over already.

The government has spent millions of pounds trying to make UK residents aware of the change and what it will mean to them. But some confusion still exists, not least in terms of what people need to do and how much it’s going to cost them to make the switch.

Here’s what you need to do to make your switch to digital TV quick, easy and affordable.

Check when you switch

If your area hasn’t switched yet you’ll get plenty of advanced warning before it does. Your switchover dates will be heavily advertised in your local paper, on your local radio stations and on posters at bus stops and railway stations in your area. When your switchover date draws near you’ll also get a leaflet through your door.

You can also find out your switchover dates, along with a wealth of information on how to switch, by visiting the Digital UK website.

Check your TV

If you purchased your TV in the last few years then there’s a very good chance that it is digital TV ready. If it has the “Freeview” logo on it, and if you’ve already been using it to watch digital channels such as ITV2 and the BBC News channel, then your TV is digital-ready and you won’t need upgrade. All you’ll need to do is retune your TV when you’re told to do so.

If your TV doesn’t have Freeview built in then it’s very easy to upgrade. You can pick up a Freeview box from most large supermarkets and electrical retailers with prices starting around the £20 mark. Many Freeview boxes are also compatible with Top Up TV, which means that for a small monthly charge you can add some extra channels to your TV package including Sky Sports and ESPN.

You could also choose to pay a little more and get a Freeview recorder. These set-top boxes work like a video recorder but instead of recording to tapes or DVDs, everything you record is stored on a large internal disc.

Freeview recorders, or PVRs as they’re often called, are incredibly easy to use and once you’ve had one for a few weeks you'll wonder how you ever got by without it. Again, Freeview recorders are available in most large supermarkets and electronics stores, with prices starting at around £80.

Retune your sets

When the time comes for you to make the switch you’ll need to retune your TV or set-top box to receive the new digital signal. Retuning should be relatively easy, and you’ll be able to find out how to do it in the instructions that came with your TV or set-top box.

You’ll be told to retune your TV twice as one or more of the BBC channels will be switched over first, with the rest of the channels switching over a couple of weeks later. Following the second retune you’ll probably find that the picture quality of all your channels will improve as the new digital signal is boosted.

If you no longer have your instruction manuals you can download instructions on how to retune most makes and models of TV and set-top box from the Digital UK site.

Have your aerial checked

If your area has switched over and you’ve got some channels missing, or reception is poor on all your channels, then you may need to have your aerial checked by a professional.

It is recommended that you consult a Registered Digital Installer (RDI) if you're having problems with your aerial, as each one has been security checked and trained to handle the switchover. You can find details of your local RDIs on the Digital UK website or in the Yellow Pages.

Consider a subscription TV package

For many people the digital switchover is the perfect excuse for signing up for one of the many subscription TV packages that are available in the UK.

This is perhaps the easiest and best way to make the switch, as a qualified engineer will set everything up for you and you’ll be able to enjoy more channels than with Freeview alone.

There’s a wide range of BT Vision, Virgin Media and Sky TV packages for you to choose from, and you can get a basic digital TV package from any of these companies for £20 a month or less.

These three providers also offer a range of bundles that include broadband Internet access and inclusive phone calls along with a digital TV service. Bundles are well worth considering as they can represent value for money compared to getting each service from a different company.

With a digital TV bundle you’ll also have the convenience of combining all your charges onto a single bill each month. You should be aware that some providers require you to switch your line rental when you sign up for a bundle. This can be an advantage or a disadvantage, as while your new provider will handle the transfer for you and move your existing number you may have been perfectly happy with the service from your original landline provider.

Whichever way you choose to handle the digital switchover there is plenty of help and advice around so don’t be afraid to ask.

Existing Virgin Media & Sky customers

If you’re already a Virgin Media or Sky customer then you’ve got nothing to worry about. Your TV signals aren’t received via a TV aerial so the switchover won’t affect you, at least for any TVs that are connected to either Virgin Media or Sky set-top boxes. Any TV in your house that uses a normal aerial will still need to be retuned following the instructions above.

Existing BT Vision customers

If you're a BT Vision customer then your aerial is used to receive everything except for your on-demand content, so you will need to retune your set-top box on the two switchover dates for your region.

A week or two before your switchover date a message containing instructions on how to retune your box will be will be sent directly to your BT Vision box. To view the message switch on your BT Vision box and press the yellow button to go to your message inbox. Then just follow the simple on-screen directions to retune your box.