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Fast Facts
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- What is digital switchover?
- What is The Switchover Help Scheme?
- How Many people will the Help Scheme help?
- Who is eligible for help?
- Is there a cost attached?
- When will help be available?
- Who will deliver the help?
- What kind of help does the Help Scheme offer?
- What sort of equipment will be installed?
What is the digital TV switchover?
The digital TV switchover is the biggest event in broadcasting since colour television. Starting in the ITV Border region in autumn 2008 and finishing in 2012, television services in the UK will go completely digital, ITV region by ITV region. The old analogue television signal will be switched off and replaced by a digital signal which will provide a greater choice of channels. Any TV set that's not converted to digital when the switchover takes place will no longer receive TV programmes. Every TV set you want to keep watching in your home will need to be converted or upgraded to digital.
What is The Switchover Help Scheme?
The Help Scheme has been set up by the BBC through an agreement with Government to make sure that those who need it most benefit from practical support and advice during the digital switchover process.
How many people will the scheme help?
Up to seven million people across the country will qualify for support from the Switchover Help Scheme to convert one television set to digital during switchover period.
Who's eligible?
People are eligible for the Help Scheme if they are:
- Aged 75 or over, or
- Have lived in a care home for six months or more, or
- Get (or could get):
- Disability Living Allowance (DLA), or
- Attendance or Constant Attendance Allowance, or
- Mobility supplement, or
- Are registered blind or partially sighted.
Is there a cost attached?
Some eligible people who take up the Help Scheme will pay £40 for the standard offer of help. For those eligible homes who also receive income-related benefits, the Help Scheme standard offer is free. Other options are also available. People who choose these options may need to pay more and will be told this in the Options Guide.
When will help be available?
We will write to each eligible person several months before switchover in their region, setting out the options available to them under the Help Scheme. We will then issue reminder communications, letting people know what they need to do in order to prepare for switchover. Eligible people will still be able to apply up to one month after the last transmitter switches to digital in each TV region.
Who will deliver the help?
The BBC has selected Carillion Energy Services Limited as its supplier to deliver the Help Scheme nationwide.
What kind of help does the scheme offer?
The Switchover Help Scheme team will talk through the options available and supply the following support
- Help to choose the right equipment to convert one television set to digital
- Home delivery, installation and demonstration of equipment
- A new aerial or dish, where it is necessary to make the equipment work, and where it is possible to fit one
- Ongoing help after switchover and while people are getting used to the equipment
What sort of equipment will be installed?
Equipment will be chosen which meets the needs of people eligible for the Switchover Help Scheme. This includes set-top boxes that are simple to set up and use; the provision of audio description and subtitles as standard; more functional remote controls, and simple retuning.
The specifications for Help Scheme equipment that qualify to be the standard offer are set out in the Core Receiver Requirements
