News Release

6th October 2008

Don't pass up help from the Switchover Help Scheme - Pass it on

Scottish Borders residents who've made the switch to digital TV are being urged to "pass it on" to older and disabled people who might find it less easy in a campaign launched by the Switchover Help Scheme today.

With one month to go to switchover, the Switchover Help Scheme is
calling on everyone to reach out to older or disabled people they know,
who could get its help to convert one of their TV's but may not yet
have got in touch.

If they don't understand what to do at switchover, they could be at risk of losing access to their TV. But just by "passing it on" people can make sure they contact the Help Scheme to get the help they need.

Research released today by Digital UK and Ofcom shows that 6,000
Scottish Borders households are not yet digital and it's known that
older people are the group most likely to be without digital TV.

Local
Help Scheme spokesperson Sumera Bashir, said: "We are asking people to
think about neighbours, acquaintances, those they may say hello to in
the street, at the shops or during their work, who they think may not
be taking the next steps they need to take to make the switch to
digital, to get in touch. We are urging people
to contact us before the end of October because that is the latest date
we can be certain to be able to convert their TVs by 6 November."

One person who has already picked up the pass it on baton is Bill Beattie, a Service Co-ordinator with the Red Cross.

Bill said: "Helping others is something that I do as my job, but everyone can help someone to switch to digital TV.

"It's not asking people to do a huge thing, just to be aware of
those in their local community who may need that extra support to get
in touch with the Help Scheme and get the help they need and are
entitled to."

People are eligible if they are aged 75 or over, get or could get,
disability living allowance, attendance or constant attendance
allowance, or mobility supplement, or if they are registered blind or
partially sighted.

About 19,000 eligible older and disabled people are being offered
practical help to switch one TV to digital in time for the first
switchover on November 6. The Help Scheme offers eligible people
equipment to switch one TV to digital, installation, a demonstration of
how it works and someone to call while they're getting used to it.

About 30 per cent have responded so far and more than 2,000 have
already asked for the help. The others have let us know that they won't
need our help. But that still leaves many more people who could run the
risk of missing out if they don't get in touch with the Help Scheme
soon.

Everyone in the Scottish Borders who is 75 or over, or an eligible
disabled person will be sent a Switchover Help Scheme letter and
application pack which explains the options for switching starting from
£40, or for free for eligible people who also receive certain income
benefits.

People can also call the dedicated Help Scheme number for free on 0800 40 85 901,
to either apply, or to find out how the Help Scheme can make it easy to
go digital for a low cost. Eligible people can also nominate someone
else to make their application for them.

Everyone who sends their application form back promptly will get help in plenty of time for switchover on November 6.

To make sure everyone in Borders gets the message, the Help Scheme
is also running local radio and poster advertising and is working
alongside Digital UK, local charities and organisations to spread the
word.

Sumera Bashir, Help Scheme spokesperson, said: "We are urging
everyone who has had the letter to get in touch as soon as possible,
and asking others to help them, to ensure they receive help quickly.

"People could be enjoying the benefits of digital TV in a matter of weeks if they get in touch now."

If you would like to find out more about the Help Scheme and who is eligible to apply, please log onto www.helpscheme.co.uk

The Help Scheme is run by the BBC through an agreement with the
Government, and has been designed around the needs of older and
disabled people. Equipment has been chosen to be easy to use, and
contact centre, delivery staff and installers have all been trained to
understand and respect older and disabled people. Installers are
vetted, carry identification and will never call without having made an
appointment.

Notes to editors:

Switchover Help Scheme

The Switchover Help Scheme is run by the BBC through an agreement
with the Government to help older and disabled people make the change
to digital.

In the run-up to switchover in each region, every eligible person
will be offered practical help to convert one of their TV sets to
digital. People are eligible if they are aged 75 years or more, or if
they are registered blind or partially sighted. Also eligible are
people who get (or could get) attendance or constant attendance
allowance, mobility supplement, or disability living allowance.

Most people will be asked to contribute £40 towards the help. The
service is free for people who are eligible and also get pension
credit, income support or income-based jobseekers allowance.

More information is available by calling 0800 40 85 902. or through visiting www.helpscheme.co.uk

Digital television switchover is the
process of converting the UK's terrestrial television system to
digital. Between now and 2012, analogue channels will be switched off
region by region and replaced with free-to-air digital TV and radio
services (Freeview). Switchover will extend Freeview coverage to the
whole of the UK and free up airwaves for new services such as
ultra-fast wireless broadband and mobile television.

Regional published timetable for Border 2008/09

Selkirk will start on 6 November and be complete on 20 November 2008

Caldbeck - (serving Cumbria and south west Scotland will start on 24 June and be complete on 22 July 2009

Digital UK

Digital UK is the independent, not-for-profit organisation
established in 2005 to implement digital switchover. It is jointly
owned and funded by the public-service broadcasters (BBC, ITV, Channel
4, Five, S4C and Teletext) and the digital multiplex operators.

eaga

eaga, the provider of residential energy efficiency and outsourcing
services, has been selected by the BBC as the Help Scheme service
provider to deliver the help available under the scheme from the ITV
Border region onwards.