Digital Switchover. Are you ready?

On 12th February 2012 the Analogue television signal will be switched off, and you will only be able to watch television on a digital television, or via a set-top box.
If you have an old television which can only receive BBC1 BBC2 ITV1 and Channel 4 then you will need to either get a new digital television or a freeview set top box to allow you to receive the new digital channels such as BBC3, BBC4, ITV2, ITV3 plus many more.
A freeview box costs as little as £40.00 and costs nothing to run - no subscription and no change in the license fee. You may, though need a new aerial as a stronger signal is needed in order to avoid the picture breaking up.
The BBC has set up a  switchover help scheme to assist you in switching over to digital which could include providing a set top box, installing it and checking/adjusting your aerial. Phone them free on 0800 40 86 046

When it gets nearer the date for the switchover, analogue television sets will display a message to warn you that the signal is about to be switched off.
The switchover will actually take place in two stages: BBC2 will be the first to be switched off on 8th February, with the others being switched off on February 12th.

At the same time as the switchover, the digital channels will be re-allocated necessitating all digital TVs and set-top boxes to be re-tuned. In most cases this will be done automatically. You may see a message on your screen asking you to press OK to accept the new channels, it will then take 2 or 3 minutes to find and save all the new channels.