100 days until Cornwall Switchover
Digital UK is urging residents to prepare for the switchover in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly in 100 days time on Wednesday 8 July.
According to Digital UK, while eight out of ten households in the region have already converted their main TV to digital, latest research indicates only 77% of all viewers served by the Redruth transmitter group can pinpoint the month analogue signals will be switched off.
A series of roadshows are planned for Cornwall in June; a detailed 20-page guide to switchover is being sent to every household in the region; and on-screen captions on analogue channels resume today, telling viewers to get ready.
Bill Taylor, Digital UK's Regional Manager in the South West, said: "There are just 100 days to prepare for the biggest event in broadcasting in west Cornwall and Isles of Scilly since the introduction of colour. We're urging anyone who is still watching analogue television to make the change now."
Recent research by Digital UK also reveals 98% of viewers in the West Country TV region are aware of switchover, 84% understand their options and know what to do to get ready and 67% of nearly a million households in the West Country have already converted every TV to digital.
In a separate announcement, Digital UK warned analogue TV viewers in Torquay to expect interruption to daytime analogue TV services on Thursday 2 April, ahead of the switchover to digital television next week.
Television services from the local transmitter serving parts of Torquay will be suspended from 10am to 4pm while engineers fit new equipment which will make Freeview digital TV available after switchover.
Switchover begins in Torbay and south Devon on Wednesday 8 April 2009 when the first analogue channel is permanently switched off in the West Country.
Bill Taylor, Regional Manager in the South West, said: "We're sorry for any inconvenience caused and the interruption to services; however, this is part of the final work to upgrade this local transmitter which will start broadcasting digital channels for the first time from next week.
"The process of switchover is on schedule and going well. The switchover to digital television will provide viewers across the West Country more choice, better picture quality and for the first time, end the digital divide to create a much fairer way for us to watch television."
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