News Release

25th August 2009

Switchover Help Scheme reaches out to eligible people through Community Radio

The Switchover Help Scheme is joining forces with Ramadan and Community Radio Stations in the North West in the lead up to digital TV switchover in the Granada ITV region in November.

The Community Radio initiative is part of the Help Scheme’s call to action in urging older and disabled people to get the help they are entitled to in switching to digital TV.

The BBC-run Help Scheme offers help to older and disabled people to make the change to digital TV. Every eligible person is offered practical help to convert one of their TV sets in their home to digital in the run-up to switchover in each region.

Community Service Announcements are being broadcast on Ramadan stations and will also run on Community Radio stations in the North West. There are plans to replicate the campaign across other switchover regions in the UK.

The Help Scheme has already written to all eligible people in the Granada ITV region. The series of pre-recorded Help Scheme announcements will remind those eligible listeners that it is not too late to reply but that they must respond in order to get the help.

Eligible people need to return a completed application form or apply by calling the Help Scheme’s free number 0800 40 85 900.

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Notes to Editor

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

Granada switchover

A two-stage process on 4 November 2009 when some of the analogue signals will be switched off and on 2 December 2009 when all the remaining analogue signals will be switched off.

Media Contacts

Juliet McShannon | PR Communications Manager
Switchover Help Scheme
t: 02080082680 | m: 07590307363
e: juliet.mcshannon@bbc.co.uk