The Digital Switchover has already started in ITV Border region with the Whitehaven area losing it's analogue signal in mid November 2007. The whole of the ITV Border region will have made the switch by around the middle of 2009. When it is complete, Border will be the first region in the UK to have switched over to digital TV, alongside a growing number of European regions.
What will Whitehaven get as a result of the switch?
Viewers will go from having access to four channels via an aerial today to around 20 of the most popular Freeview channels including 11 radio stations and interactive services.
Television channels: BBC1, BBC2, BBC3, BBC4, Cbeebies, CBBC, BBC News24, BBC Parliament, ITV1, ITV2, ITV3, ITV4, CITV, C4, C4+1,E4, More 4, Community Channel
BBC digital radio services: BBC Radio 1, BBC 1Xtra, BBC Radio 2, BBC Radio 3, BBC Radio 4, BBC Radio 5 Live, BBC Five Live Sports Extra, BBC 6 Music, BBC 7, BBC Asian Network and Heart.
BBCi Interactive “red button” services, Teletext, Teletext Cars, Teletext on 4.
Remember all of these channels and more are already available now on Sky and freesat from Sky.
Why Whitehaven first?
The Whitehaven area was chosen to lead the switchover process following a feasibility study led by Digital UK. Whitehaven was chosen because:
It is an area of clearly-defined terrestrial television coverage with little TV signal overlap from other areas.
The presence of three different transmitters (Whitehaven, Gosforth, Eskdale Green) make it suitable technically.
Research shows that people in the region have the UK’s highest levels of awareness and understanding of switchover.
The area has a good mix of households spanning rural and urban areas.
The switchover will make one of the most popular ways of getting digital television (via a rooftop aerial) available to residents for the first time.
When switchover will take place across the rest of the ITV Border region?
The Selkirk transmitter and its 11 relays, serving Scottish Borders starts switchover on 6 November 2008.
The Caldbeck transmitter and its 38 relays, serving Cumbria and South West Scotland switches in summer 2009.
The Douglas transmitter area and its 9 relays, serving the Isle of Man switches in summer 2009
The Kendal transmitter area and its 8 relays, serving the south lakes switches in summer 2009
If you are thinking about upgrading your TV or recording equipment now, make sure you buy one with the digital (tick) logo.
Why Border first?
Switchover is a complicated process, and needs to be done in stages so that everyone in the country will be ready for it. The Border TV region was chosen to go first as it has very little signal interference with other countries, such as France, who are also switching over to digital. It’s a great opportunity for all the people in the Border TV region to receive the benefits before anyone else.
What are the benefits?
Currently just over half of all households in the Border region can get digital reception through their aerial. After switchover almost everyone will be able to enjoy the benefits of digital TV.
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