News Release

10th August 2009

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

Over the past few months the Help Scheme has been writing to eligible people in the region inviting them to apply for help to convert one TV to digital in time for switchover this November.

A couple who have already taken up the offer of help are John and Janet Timms from Blackrod, in Bolton.

John, 47, who is eligible for the Help Scheme due to a heart condition said: “When the Help Scheme information pack arrived in the post, we thought we’d missed our chance as we’d already got digital TV.  But then we realised we could get our TV in the kitchen converted to digital under the Help Scheme which was fantastic. My experience of the Scheme has been great.”

Ian Webster, who is one of five networkers in the Granada region, said: “As soon as John had his equipment installed he told me how pleased he was and how quickly everything had been sorted out.

“He’s chairman of the local village association and even put Help Scheme leaflets on his stall at the recent Blackrod Scarecrow Festival, so you could say he’s definitely an advocate for the Help Scheme.”

To apply for help through the Switchover Help Scheme eligible people can call 0800 40 85 906. Anyone who has any questions after their installation can also call the Switchover Help Scheme for up to a year later to get further help.

Granada is the third region in the country to switch. Those living in Granada served by the Winter Hill transmitter will start to switch 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 Granada is Freeview.  For eligible people who are also on pension credit, income support, income-based jobseeker’s allowance, or employment and support allowance, it’s free.

What’s on offer?

Details about how to apply, an explanation of all of the available options and prices, are clearly set out in the information pack that most eligible people in the ITV region should have recently received.

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 85 906.

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.

Media Contacts:

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