The UK is switching to digital TV between 2008 and 2012, TV region by TV region in a process called digital switchover. This means that all your TV equipment may have to be adapted or upgraded to receive digital TV signals.
If you live or own a property that has a communal TV aerial system you will also need to check whether this system will need to be upgraded to receive digital TV signals. For a more information visit to www.digitaluk.co.uk (external website) or www.digitaluk.co.uk/propertymanagers (external website). Digital TV gives you all your usual TV channels and access to many more such as BBC Three, ITV2, Film4, and digital radio stations. Digital TV can also provide services such as subtitling and audio description for people with sight and hearing impairments.
What do you need to do?
You can either adapt your existing TV set with a digital box, or upgrade to a new TV set that has digital TV built in.
There are currently four ways to receive digital TV. Check availability of these services for your area by visiting www.digitaluk.co.uk (external website) and ensure that your communal TV aerial system can support the service you want.
Through an aerial
Non-subscription service from Freeview
Add on subscription channels from Top Up TV
Through a satellite
Non- subscription service from freesat from Sky, freesat
Subscription packages available from Sky Digital
Through a cable
Subscription services available from Virgin Media
Through a phoneline or Internet
Subscription services from BTVision, Tiscali TV
For general, independent advice on the digital TV switchover visit www.digitaluk.co.uk (external website). Visit www.digitaluk.co.uk/propertymanagers(external website)for more specific information about upgrading your communal TV aerial system.
