News Release

4th February 2009

Reminder for eligible older and disabled people in Exeter, parts of
Devon, Somerset and Dorset to get help to switch to digital TV

Older and disabled people living in Exeter, parts of Devon, Somerset
and Dorset are being reminded about the extra help they can get to
convert to digital TV in time for switchover this spring.

The Stockland Hill transmitter group which predominantly serves
Exeter, parts of Devon, Somerset and Dorset will begin to switch to
digital on the 6 May.

To make sure everyone gets help in plenty of time, the Switchover
Help Scheme, which is run by the BBC, has been writing to eligible
people inviting them to apply.

People are eligible if:

• They are aged 75 or over
• They have lived in a care home for six months or more
• They get (or could get) disability living allowance, or attendance or constant attendance allowance, or mobility supplement, or
• They are registered blind or partially sighted

For a one off payment of £40 eligible people will be offered easy to
use Freeview equipment to convert one TV set, installation of that
equipment, an aerial check and upgrade if necessary for those that own
their own aerials, a demonstration of how it works and someone to call
for help whilst they are getting used to it.

The service is free for eligible people who also get pension credit, income support, or income based job seeker's allowance.

Other options are available, some at extra cost. All options and
prices are clearly set out in the information pack which is being sent
direct to each eligible person's home.

With more than three months to go until switchover, around one in
five eligible people mailed by the Help Scheme in West Country have now
responded, either to take up the support, or to say they don't need help

People who have been sent a pack are now being sent another letter
to remind them that they must reply if they want help. Importantly,
even if they do not need help, we would like them to let the Switchover
Help Scheme know so that we can be sure they're ready for switchover.

Most eligible people in Exeter, parts of Devon, Somerset and Dorset
will have received their first letter already. Some will not have
received it yet because we are still checking their details. They don't
have to worry because they will be contacted in plenty of time before
switchover. If they haven't received an information pack by April 2009,
they can give us a call.

Local Help Scheme spokesperson Teresa Thorne, said: "The message we
want to give eligible people is that there really is no need to get
left behind. Help is available and we want to hear from anyone who
hasn't yet responded and needs our help.

"The sooner people get in touch the sooner they will be switched to
digital and able to continue watching their favorite shows after
switchover."

To make it even easier, eligible people can choose to apply by calling the Help Scheme free on 0800 40 85 902 instead, or they can nominate someone else to make their application for them.

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.

ENDS

Notes to editors:

Media Contacts:

Sarah Fairfax
Communications Executive - Switchover Help Scheme
T: 0191 245 8834
M: 07730424407
E: sarah.fairfax@eaga.com

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 TIMETABLE - PUBLISHED DATES are as follows:

West Country 2009
Beacon Hill 8 & 22 April 2009
Stockland Hill 6 & 20 May 2009
Huntshaw Cross 1 & 29 July 2009
Redruth 8 July & 5 Aug 2009
Caradon Hill 12 Aug & 9 Sept 2009

The first switchover in the first West Country ITV area affecting
the Beacon Hill transmitter will start on 8 April 8 2009 and the
process will be complete 22 April 2009.

The second switchover affecting the Stockland Hill transmitter will start on 6 May 2009 and be complete by 20 May 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.