News Release

18th November 2008

It's not too late to help someone to switch to digital

Good neighbours in the Selkirk area have been helping ensure their
older and disabled friends, family and acquaintances make the switch to
digital TV in time for switchover on 20 November, by passing on the
message that help is still available.

Many have been getting behind the Switchover Help Scheme's "Pass it
on" campaign launched last month to reach out to those who may not yet
have taken up the offer of help to convert one of their TVs to digital.

Local Help Scheme spokesperson Sumera Bashir, said: "Even though
switchover will be completed this week, the message we want to give
eligible people is that help is still available.

"Importantly, even if eligible people do not need help, they should
still let the Help Scheme know so that we can be sure they're ready
switchover. We're also reaching out to eligible people who have told
the Help Scheme that they didn't want the support and may have now
changed their mind. People can still apply for the help until August
next year, but the sooner people get in touch the sooner they will be
able to continue watching their favorite shows."

When Hazel Smith, British Red Cross, Service Co-ordinator for the
Neighbourhood Links project, paid Eyemouth residents, Mr and Mrs
Marshall a visit, she realised that they hadn't yet acted on any
information they had received from the Help Scheme and urged them to
attend a local Help Scheme drop in session to find out more.

The Marshalls took Hazel's advice and after speaking to Shirley
Batty, a trained Help Scheme representative, the couple have now had
their digital equipment installed in time for final switchover this
Thursday.

The couple said: "We had received information about the Help Scheme,
but we hadn't realised that we had left it so late to get in touch.
That's why we were so grateful to speak to someone in person who could
talk us through the different options. Now we don't need to worry when
switchover comes."

Hazel Smith, 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."

• About 17,000 eligible people in the Selkirk transmitter area have been mailed information to apply for the Help Scheme.

• So far two thirds of those eligible (about 11,600) or 70% have
  responded. Many of those who got in touch said they did not need the
  help.

• Up to 12 November around 2,900 people of those who had responded
  had opted in for the Help Scheme (or 17% of the total eligible people).

To make sure everyone in Borders gets the message, Help Scheme
representatives are manning drop in advice centres at venues all over
the Scottish Borders over the next few days and will be on hand to take
applications from anyone eligible who would like to apply for the
Scheme.

Those who are part of the Help Scheme can also draw upon the
dedicated help line for up to a year following the switch while they
get used to the new equipment

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, if they are registered blind or
partially sighted, or if they have been resident in a care home for six
months or more.

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.

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

ENDS

Notes to editors:

Images available upon request

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.