Plans are being drawn up for “Channel 6” – a nationwide local TV service. The group United for Local Television is campaigning for a UK-wide network of local TV stations to fill the void in local TV news and content that’s not being servced by the BBC and ITV.

Campaigners include local TV operators, voluntary organisations and media campaigners, and has the backing of 126 MPs.

If successful, Channel 6 would launch before the end of 2012 the Digital Switchover

UK Podcast Team, FrequencyCast has released an audio podcast providing help on the Digital Switchover. This follows results of our survey telling us that 39% of our listeners and visitors aren’t ready for analogue TV to be switched off. See our press release for more.

Our “Unofficial Guide to The Digital Switchover” looks at the top ten things you need to know, and answers our listener’s common switchover questions.

 The show lasts for 20 minutes, and can be downloaded for free from our Digital Switch page

 

 Digital Switch Audio Guide [20:42m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

We’re taking a straw poll from our listeners to find out how many folk are ready for the Digital TV Switchover, to help with an upcoming podcast feature we’re planning. We’d appreciate your vote:

The Analogue switch-off is upon us. In the early hours of this morning, the first part of the UK to switch to a digital service, lost its analogue BBC2. That part of the country, was Cumbria’s Whitehaven, in the North West of England. The transmitter, serving around 25,000 homes, made the switch at 2am, under the glare of the UK’s media. Whitehaven’s other channels will go by November, and the UK’s analogue telly finally vanishes in 2012. For more on the digital switch and what it means to you, download the MP3 of Show 7 of our online radio show.

Between now and 2012, the UK has to “go digital”. The extra choice is great, and more and more people are switching. But is it all good news? Are you happy with the switch-off of analogue telly? Should we wait till we’re ready, or plough ahead?

We have a new pages of notes at www.frequencycast.co.uk/analogueswitchoff.html

We’re also asking for your votes via this page… as well as your comments here on our blog - for possible inclusion in a future show…