North west switchover underway

All Freeview viewers in the north west of England will need to retune their equipment today, as the digital switchover gets underway.

Shortly after midnight, all TV services were temporarily switched off at the Winter Hill transmitter group. Analogue BBC Two was switched off permanently. An improved digital signal is being made available from Winter Hill and its relays, broadcasting the full range of BBC channels in digital form.

Almost half a million viewers served by relay transmitters across the north west can receive digital TV through their aerial (Freeview) for the first time today.

Terrestrial TV services will be off air for some viewers until the first stage of switchover is completed by late afternoon. Once services are back on air, viewers of Freeview, BT Vision and Top Up TV should retune their equipment.

As Freeview signals are boosted, a small proportion of north-west viewers may find they receive BBC Wales, ITV Wales or S4C at the top of their Freeview channel guide after retuning, due to overlaps with transmitters in Wales. Viewers can make their preferred services easier to find using either the 'favourites' list, 'channel settings' or 'edit channels' feature of their Freeview equipment.

The second stage of switchover takes place on 2 December, when the remaining analogue channels will be switched off permanently. On this date, further Freeview channels from ITV, Channel 4 and Five will also become available from relay transmitters for the first time.

Jo Waters, Digital UK Regional Manager, said this morning: "Switchover in the north west is underway, and thousands of people are receiving Freeview channels for the first time.

"We're now encouraging viewers who still don't have the necessary equipment to get ready in time for 2 December, when all the analogue channels will be permanently switched off. Anyone who needs advice during this period should contact Digital UK."

DTG Staff  |  04.11.2009

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