The move is part of a new campaign to target the 64,000 homes in the area who still haven’t converted to digital TV. The captions will only appear on analogue channels, and will increase in frequency as switchover approaches.
In six months’ time (24 March 2010), the Mendip transmitter group, which serves Bristol, parts of Somerset, Wiltshire and Gloucestershire, will start switching to digital television.
Kicking off the six months countdown today, Digital UK’s South West Regional Manager Bill Taylor was joined by switchover robot Digit Al for a photo call at Longvernal Primary School in Midsomer Norton (pictured) where children have been learning about the digital switchover.
Switchover will make digital TV through an aerial (Freeview) available to all 913,000 households in the West1 region. More than 145,000 homes served by 58 local ‘relay’ transmitters will get Freeview for the first time, seeing the number of channels available through an aerial rising from four to around 20.
Bill Taylor, Digital UK’s South West Regional Manager said: “Research has shown that captions are a really effective way to tell viewers their television will definitely be affected by switchover, and when it will happen.”
The Switchover Help Scheme has been launched in the region to help eligible older and disabled people make the change to digital on one of their TV sets. Captions about the Help Scheme will also run in the next few months.
Caroline Byng, Regional Manager for the Switchover Help Scheme said: “The Switchover Help Scheme has been designed especially to help eligible older and disabled people make the switch to digital. The captions will act as timely reminder to take up the help they’re entitiled to.”
Switchover is a two-stage process. The full dates for each part of the West region are listed overleaf.
Digital UK is the independent, not-for-profit organisation leading the switchover process. Viewers can check their digital options by entering their postcode at digitaluk.co.uk or calling the helpline: 08456 50 50 50. Visit the Help Scheme website at helpscheme.co.uk
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