News Release

27th July 2009

The Switchover Help Scheme is helping older and disabled people in North Wales make the switch to digital TV.

Over the past few months the Help Scheme has been writing to eligible older and disabled people in North Wales inviting them to apply for help to convert one TV to digital in time for switchover this autumn.

One person who has already taken up the offer of help is Mr John Horton. John, aged 93, who lives near Mold in Flintshire, North Wales said:

"When the Help Scheme information pack arrived in the post, I thought I’d missed my chance as I’d already bought a new digital TV. But what I didn’t know was that the TV in my bedroom could be converted to digital under the Help Scheme."

"When I called them they were very patient and explained everything to me and didn’t seem to mind when I asked lots of questions.

"Almost before I knew it, Jamie the installer arrived and put up a new aerial and set up the Freeview box in the bedroom. He was a very patient fellow and explained all the workings ready for me to watch the TV straight away. I’m very grateful for what the Help Scheme has done for me."

Jamie Williams, the Help Scheme installer and Lisa Jones the regional project
co-ordinator who visited John’s home are just two of around 40 installers and four networkers working in the north Wales area helping eligible people like John to make the switch to digital TV as easy as possible.

Lisa said: "We totally understand that not everyone finds getting used to new equipment really easy but once we take the time to explain to someone how a new remote control works and how to access the new TV channels most people wonder why they were worried in the first place."

Jamie added: "The time we spend explaining the equipment and controls to the customer is invaluable to them. And it’s been a learning curve for me, especially when I’m working in the homes of blind or visually impaired people. It’s very rewarding."

If customers have any questions after their installation they can always call the Switchover Help Scheme on 0800 40 85 903 for up to a year later to get further help. Anyone who would like help in Welsh can call 0800 40 85 905.

North Wales is the second area in the country to switch. Those living in north west Wales served by the Llanddona transmitter will start to switch on 21 October and those in the north east who receive their TV pictures from the Moel y Parc transmitter will start a week later on 28 October. Those in parts of east and central Wales served by Long Mountain will start to switch the following month on 4 November.

People are eligible for the Help Scheme if:

• They are aged 75 or over; or
• They have lived in a care home for six months or more; or
• 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 be asked to pay £40 towards the standard offer of help which in Wales is Freeview. For eligible people who are also on pension credit, income support or income-based jobseeker’s allowance, it’s free.

What’s on offer?

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 receive in the post.

What do I need to do?

People need to respond to get the help. Completed information pack forms can be returned to the Help Scheme, but to make it even easier to apply, eligible people can call the Help Scheme free on 0800 40 85 903 or 0800 40 85 905.

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

The Help Scheme is run by the BBC under an agreement with the Government and has been specially designed around the needs of older and disabled people. Equipment has been specifically chosen for ease of use and the Help Scheme contact centre, delivery staff and installers have all been trained to understand and respect older and disabled people. All installers have undertaken Criminal Records Bureau checks, carry identification and will never call without having made an appointment.

Notes to Editors

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 under 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.