Whitehaven makes UK broadcasting history
Links:
Also in DTG News ...
The Cumbrian town of Whitehaven and surrounding Copeland area made broadcasting history early this morning as the UK's first digital switchover got under way. At 2am the analogue version of BBC Two ceased broadcasting, and at 2.37am an initial group of five digital terrestrial channels started broadcasting. On November 14 the other analogue terrestrial channels will be switched off, by which time a total of 20 Freeview channels will be available to 25,000 homes in the area.
Ford Ennals, chief executive of switchover coordination body Digital UK, said: "This is a big day for Whitehaven and for UK broadcasting. Switchover is a complex engineering project and I'm delighted that after many years of planning, the first stage went well. For thousands of households, today delivers a first taste of the additional choice and interactivity that digital television provides. In just four weeks' time, their old four channel terrestrial line up will have been fully replaced with 20 free channels and digital radio."
The first digital services are BBC One, BBC Two, BBC Three, BBC News 24 and CBBC. A further 15 channels, including ITV and Channel 4 digital services, will replace the remaining analogue services from November 14. The same process will be followed region by region across the UK from 2008-2012 extending coverage of Freeview channels to 98.5% of households, up from 73% today.
Ennals added: "This is just the first stage of switchover. Our research suggests more than nine out of ten households are ready. We know some have yet to convert their analogue television sets to digital. Others may need help, advice or practical assistance installing or getting used to using new equipment. Our priority today and in the coming weeks will be to remind late converters of the final deadline on November 14 and making sure plenty of help is available."
Culture secretary James Purnell said: "Digital switchover offers more choice and fairer access to a broad range of channels and is essential if we are to ensure universal access to quality broadcasting. While more than four in five UK households have already made the transition, switchover will complete the process and prevent millions of people being stuck in an analogue ghetto."
Links open in a new window. The DTG is not responsible for the content of other web sites.