Whitehaven Chosen For National Switchover Flagship Project
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Broadcasting Minister Shaun Woodward and Industry Minister Margaret Hodge today announced that Whitehaven will lead out the UK's switchover to digital.
The analogue television signal in Whitehaven, Cumbria, will be switched over to digital in autumn 2007. Help will be available for older and disabled people.
The plan for Whitehaven, which will be led by Digital UK, was confirmed in a letter to MPs, along with the detailed timetable for switchover in the Border region - the first to start the switch in 2008.
Residents of Whitehaven and the surrounding area will receive an extra 14 television channels and access to digital radio stations, all through their aerials.
The Selkirk area, also in Border, will switch a year later in the fourth quarter of 2008.
Switchover in Border will be completed in the second quarter of 2009, when the area served by the Caldbeck transmitter switches over.
Shaun Woodward said:
"The people of Whitehaven will lead the rest of the UK into the digital future. They will be the first to experience the enormous benefit from digital switchover as it will happen across the UK.
"Over 15 million UK homes are already enjoying the benefits of digital TV, such as greater choice of channels, red button interactive features and better quality pictures and sound.
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"We know from the Ferryside trial that it's possible to switch a community from analogue to digital television.
"And we know from the Bolton trial that older and disabled people can make the switch with the right help.
"I'm pleased that Digital UK will bring both the technical and support aspects of switchover together in Whitehaven and begin the biggest change to British broadcasting since colour TV."
Minister for Industry and the Regions Margaret Hodge said:
"Digital switchover will help the UK maintain its position as a world leader in broadcasting. It will also ensure today's current terrestrial broadcasting network is replaced by the best technology available, digital.
"Whitehaven will be a great opportunity to prove that we can give people all the information that they need to switch their TV equipment easily."
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Digital UK Chief Executive Ford Ennals said:
"Today's announcement puts Whitehaven at the forefront of the most exciting change to television for a generation. Switchover will significantly add to the choice of channels available and give people options in how to go digital.
"Digital UK's job is to make sure everyone knows how to prepare for the change and that no one is left behind. In the coming months, we will be working closely with many different organisations in Whitehaven to ensure everyone is prepared for switchover and the benefits it will bring."
Notes to Editors
- The Government wants all UK households to benefit from digital TV. Key to this is ensuring that everyone has a choice of digital TV options that they can afford. This can only be achieved through a universal switchover from analogue to digital television signals.
- The letter to MPs from Shaun Woodward and Margaret Hodge can be seen at: www.digitaltelevision.gov.uk
- Whitehaven is a community of around 25,000 households and has been chosen because it is a clearly defined area with little signal overlap; residents cannot currently receive Freeview; it is technically suitable for engineering purposes and it is part of a region with high switchover awareness (82% at June 2006, source: Digital UK/Ofcom Tracker).
- The 14 new television channels that Whitehaven residents will be able to receive in this way are: BBC3, BBC4, CBeebies, CBBC, BBC News 24, BBC Parliament, ITV2, ITV3, ITV4, CITV, E4, More4, Quiz Call and the Community Channel. They will also be able to receive BBC digital-only radio channels through a TV aerial, as well as interactive TV services and digital Teletext.
- Digital UK, the not-for-profit, independent group set up to oversee digital switchover, will run the Whitehaven pilot.
- Digital UK will write to every resident in the area within the next few weeks, outlining what is happening and providing further sources of information. They will also send a further leaflet to every home in October and advertise the switch in local media.
- A Digital UK communications campaign, to inform local residents about digital switchover, began in December 2005. A further campaign in Border, including a leaflet to every household, took place in May and June 2006.
- Ofcom estimates that 72.5% of UK households now have digital television.
- Tessa Jowell announced the regional timetable for switchover in September 2005:
- 2008 – Border
- 2009 – West Country, HTV Wales, Granada
- 2010 – HTV West, Grampian, Scottish Television
- 2011 – Yorkshire, Anglia, Central
- 2012 – Meridian, Carlton/LWT (London), Tyne Tees, Ulster
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10. Extra help with switchover will be available to:
- all households with one person aged 75 or over;
- all households with one person with a significant disability (receiving attendance allowance, disability living allowance);
- help will be available free of charge to households with one person aged 75 or over/disabled households receiving pension credit, income support or jobseekers allowance; other households will pay a modest fee;
- specific support for households where one person is registered blind or partially sighted.
11. Assistance will consist of equipment designed for the needs of older and disabled users and will also offer participants:
- an installation visit;
- replacement aerial if necessary;
- follow-up support.
12. The BBC has been asked by the Government to help establish and fund the assistance scheme. More details of how the scheme will operate will be made available when the new licence fee settlement is announced later in the year.
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