Main Content
News Release
5th May 2009
Help is at hand to switch to digital TV in Manchester
Older and disabled people living in Manchester are being urged to watch out for Switchover Help Scheme information packs that explain how they can get extra help to convert one TV to digital in time for switchover this November.
Most eligible people who live in the Manchester area will receive their first letter and information pack in the next few weeks. The pack outlines all of the options available to go digital with the Help Scheme and spells out what people need to do to get the help.
The Winter Hill transmitter group serving much of Liverpool, Manchester, Lancashire, Cheshire and north Staffordshire will begin to switch on 4 November this year.
To make sure older and disabled people get help in plenty of time, the Switchover Help Scheme is writing to over one million eligible people in the Granada ITV region inviting them to apply.
People are eligible if:
- They are aged 75 or over, or
- 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
What’s on offer?
For a one-off payment of £40, eligible people in the Granada region will be offered:
- Easy-to-use equipment to convert one television set,
- Installation of that equipment,
- An aerial check and upgrade if necessary, for people who own their own aerials,
- A demonstration of how it works, and
- Someone to call for help while they are getting used to it.
The standard offer for eligible people in the Granada region is for a Freeview set-top box installed on one TV. The equipment will give people access to more than 20 channels including all of the public service channels.
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 in the Granada region can also choose from other digital options. These include freesat and Sky amongst others, some of which cost extra.
What must I do to get the Help?
Eligible people need to respond to get the help. Completed information pack forms can be returned by post to the Help Scheme, or, to make it even easier to apply, eligible people can also choose to call the Help Scheme free on 0800 40 85 906.
In addition, any eligible person who needs help to apply can nominate someone else to complete their form for them. Everyone who responds gets two energy-saving light bulbs as a ‘thank you’.
Local Help Scheme spokesperson, Tanyia Butt said: "The message we want to give eligible people is that there is no need to worry because help is available. All you need to do once you receive your information pack is to either give us a call or return your completed form."
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. All installers are vetted, carry identification and will never call without having made an appointment.
-- ENDS --
Notes to the Editor
Media Contacts
Diane Green
PR and Communications Manager – Switchover Help Scheme
T: 0191 245 8847
M: 07951478832
E: diane.green@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, have lived in a care home for six months or more. 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 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, a leading 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.