Digit Al, the switchover robot, will take the van to Bristol and Bath, reminding viewers they have just 100 days to prepare for the change. Anyone who hasn’t converted their TV to digital after switchover will be faced with a blank screen.
Staff from Digital UK and the Switchover Help Scheme will join Digit Al in the pink detector van, which features a revolving, roof-mounted ‘detection head’, to hand out switchover information and provide practical advice to analogue viewers. They will also tell people about the Help Scheme1, which provides practical help for older or disabled people to switch to digital. Information packs have already been sent to eligible viewers.
After switchover, around 150,000 homes served by local ‘relay’ transmitters across Bristol, parts of Somerset, Dorset, Wiltshire and Gloucestershire will be able to receive Freeview for the first time, seeing the number of channels available through an aerial increase from four to around 15.
David Farwig, Digital UK’s Assistant Manager for the South West, said: “Most people have already made the switch to digital TV but with just 100 days to go we’re urging anyone still watching analogue to prepare for 24 March. Any viewers who need help with switchover can visit the Digital UK website or call our advice line.”
Sumera Bashir from the Switchover Help Scheme added: “So far we have almost 40 installers in the West TV area helping older and disabled people make the switch to digital TV. We have already completed more than 5,000 installations. We’re urging older and disabled people who haven’t yet switched to make the change now and to contact the Help Scheme if they’re eligible for our help.”
Digital UK and the Help Scheme are now stepping up their communications campaigns. A detailed 20-page guide to switchover is being sent to every household in the region, and on-screen captions on analogue channels will resume, reminding viewers to get ready. These will be backed up by TV, press and radio advertising.
Viewers can check their options for getting digital TV by using the Digital UK online postcode checker at digitaluk.co.uk. More information about the Switchover Help Scheme can be found at helpscheme.co.uk.
Digital UK: 08456 505050
Switchover Help Scheme: 0800 408 7654
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