News Release

27th February 2009

Help is at hand to switch to digital TV

Older and disabled people living in Swansea are being urged to watch
out in the mail for information packs explaining how they can get extra
help to convert to digital TV in time for switchover this summer.

The Kilvey Hill transmitter group serving much of the Swansea area
will begin to switch on 12 August and to make sure older and disabled
people get help in plenty of time, the Switchover Help Scheme is now
starting to write 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

Most eligible people will receive their first letter and information
pack between February 2009 and May 2009. Details about how to apply, an
explanation of all of the available options and their prices are
clearly set out in the information pack that eligible people will
receive in the post.

What's on offer?

The standard offer is for is an easy-to-use Freeview set top box to
convert one TV set to digital. It can be delivered to the eligible
person's home, or they can choose to have it fully installed. Eligible
people unable to receive TV through an aerial after switchover will be
offered a freesat satellite system instead.

Most people will be asked to pay £40 towards the standard offer of
help. For eligible people who are also on pension credit, income
support or income-based jobseeker's allowance, it's free.

All eligible people can also choose from other digital options at an
extra cost. These include digital recorders, televisions with digital
built in and satellite options from freesat from BBC and ITV and from
Sky, including high definition options.

What do I need to do?

Completed Information pack forms can be returned to the Help Scheme,
as people need to reply to receive help, but to make it even easier to
apply, eligible people can also choose to call the Help Scheme free on 0800 40 85 903 if they require an English speaking service, or 0800 40 85 905 if they need help in Welsh.

People who think they are eligible but who haven't received a letter
by July 2009 should get in touch on either of these numbers.

In addition, any eligible person who needs help to apply can nominate someone else to complete their form for them.

Local Help Scheme spokesperson, Gareth Earle, said: "The message we
want to give eligible people is that there is no need to worry because
help is available. We will be writing to all eligible people in the
coming weeks and all anyone needs to do once they receive their
information pack is to get in touch either by giving us a call or
returning their completed form."

The Help Scheme is run by the BBC 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. All
installers are CRB checked, carry identification and will never call
without having made an appointment.

ENDS

Notes to editors:

Media Contacts:

Diane Green
PR and Communications Manager â?? Switchover Help Scheme
T: 0191 245 8847
M: 07951478832
E: diane.green@eaga.com

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 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.

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.