The Analogue Switch-off

The UK Government has announced that by 2012, the current analogue TV service will be switching off the existing analogue TV service. This service has been operating in the UK since the 1930s, and is being turned off to make way for digital TV services

On this page, we look at the switch-off - If you're looking for help with the digital switch, see our Go Digital page, see www.switchhelp.co.uk, or listen to our Audio Guide to the Switch.

When is it happening?

Transmitters sending out the analogue signal will be switched off from October 2007. This will happen in UK regions, with Border going digital first. Here's the UK's current timetable:

So what will happen? Standard, non-digital, TV sets get their signals via a TV aerial from a network of analogue transmitters. These will be switched off, and upgraded to support digital. Those that don't get a digital TV set, or connect a digital TV digibox, to their telly, will find their screens go blank.

Why is this happening?

Digital TV offers a greater range of channels. With Freeview (also sent over a TV aerial), you get around 35 TV channels - versus the five existing analogue TV channels. These new channels use less space, and the space left after the switch-off, can be used by the Government for other purposes - perhaps sold on to other service providers.

Consumers Going Digital

To go digital - all of your TV sets need to either contain a digital receiver, or need to be connected to a digital set-top box. Video and DVD recorders also need to be able to cope with digital TV. The cheapest solution is to buy a low-price Freeview set-top-box. Provided you're able to get a digital signal, this offers over 35 channels of digital TV, via the TV aerial.

On this site, we have pages dedicated to the Digital TV options, and we answer your common digital switch questions.

How clear is the Government's message?

The Government is keen to get everyone to switch, and together with the broadcasters, are pushing the digital message.

Looking at some of the mails we've answered in recent months, there's still much confusion about the analogue switch-over. Here's just a small sample:

• "We live in a valley town that can't receive the digital signal using conventional aerials. Does this mean that when the switch over date approaches, all households in the town (including those on low incomes already) will have to pay for sky dishes and equipment?"
  
  
• "We have got digital in the living room but we have got 4 portable televisions. Do we have to have a box for every telly?"
  
  
• "We have freeview on one of our T.Vs, and it's impossible to watch on most of the channels the picture breaks up. At the moment it is NOT a better service as every advert keeps telling us"
  
  
• "I cannot receive a digital signal due to the trees which are around my bungalow, what happens when we all have to have go digital, can I make the local council lower these trees as they are only beech?"
  
  
• "If I don't 'go digital' when the switchover happens, thereby being unable to receive TV signals, will I still need a TV License to watch videos and DVDs?"
  
  
• "Will I need a high definition tv after the analogue turn off in 2111 to receive a tv signal for just the five main channels ... I am getting conflicting advice on what i have to do from the major retailers as I feel that they are trying to sell me stuff that i do not need."
  
  
• "We have a freeview box which receives its information from the rooftop aerial. My husband says that when the analogue signal is turned off, the aerial won't get the digital signal and we'll need a dish or cable, is this correct?"

Lots of confusion - and we're trying to help.

If you're looking for more on the Digital Switch, see our Go Digital page, or listen to Show 07 of our podcast for more.

Switch-off. Good or Bad?

Let's look at the good and bad points. First the positives:

• A wider choice of channels. Freeview offers over 35 TV channels - including BBC Three, ITV 2, E4, Film 4, News 24, Sky Three and Five US
• Digital TV offers features such as interactive "red button" content, and is less susceptible to interference
• At the moment, digital services deliberately have their power reduced, so's not to interfere with analogue pictures. When analogue is dead, digital power will increase, as will digital TV coverage.

Now the negatives:

• Every TV set has to either be "Digital TV Ready", or connected to a Freeview, Sky Digital or cable TV set-top box. For houses with multiple TV sets, this can be expensive.
• Video and DVD equipment may need to be replaced too - Remember that to watch one digital channel while recording another digital TV channel, will require two digital receivers.
• Some homes will need an aerial upgrade - which can be costly
• Environmental impact - Set-top boxes left on standby eat power, increasing home electricity bills. Also, old TVs will be scrapped and landfilled

What about FM and AM Radio?

The assumption is that once the Governement has got TV to "Go Digital", attentions will be tuurned to FM and AM radio, and making the UYK switch over to digital radio, in the form of D.A.B.

According to a report on BBC News, Culture Secretary Tessa Jowel has confirmed that a decision about any proposed analogue radio switchoff will be made by the end of 2007. Switching off analogue FM and AM radios would render around 100 million radio sets obsolete, and mean the need to replace car radios, clock radios, kitchen radios, hi-fi tuners and handheld portable radio receivers in Britain.

Our take?

FrequencyCast is an online radio show that covers TV and Technology in the UK. Are we pro or anti the digital switch? It depends on the question you ask:

• We're actually in favour of UK TV going digital. There's a greater channel choice, picture quality is generally better, and services like electronic programme guides, digital recorders and high definition are great... bring it on!
  
  
• However, what we're less keen on, is the imposed switch off of the analogue TV signal. We're not anti-digital TV, but we can see why many are not in favour of analogue vanishing from 2008. Are we ready? Can folk on low income cope with costs of replacing equipment and aerials?
  
  
• As for radio, well, we're certainly against any switch off for FM and AM radio!

Can it be stopped?

The UK Government are fully commited to the switchoff. Although emails to us show some people aren't happy... we've not heard of anyone campaigning to stop the analogue switchoff.

If you know of any anti digital TV campaigns, anyone protesting about the anaolgue shutdown of TV and radio, or any "say no to the switchoff" sites or petitions, please let us know, and we'll list them here.

Perhaps add your comments to our blog entry?

News Links

• Telly Turnoff for Thixendake - This small Yorkshire village will be without TV from November 2007

If you're interested in finding out what's new in the digital TV world, consider joining our mailing list, or subscribing to our regular radio show.

Want more info? Listen to Show 07 of our podcast for more on the digital switchover. You can listen online with our pop-up Pod Player, save as MP3 or subscribe via iTunes.

 

Got a view that we can answer in our next podcast?
Call our podline on 0208 133 4567 or send us a message

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