News Release

5th October 2009

Help Scheme is at hand for you to switch to digital TV in Bristol

Older and disabled people living in Bristol 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 next March.

Most eligible people should receive their first letter and information pack from the Help Scheme by the end of October. Details about how to apply, an explanation of all of the available options and prices are clearly set out in the pack.

There are more than 300,000 people eligible for help in the West TV region. Eligible people served by the Mendip transmitter group covering Bristol, Dorset, Wiltshire, Gloucester and parts of Somerset, will begin to switch to digital on 24 March 2010.

Those living in the Cheltenham and Gloucester area are served by the Ridge Hill transmitter and will switch in 2011.

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 will be offered:

• easy-to-use digital equipment to convert one television set in their home;
• home delivery and installation if they wish;
• an aerial check and replacement if needed, where we can;
• a helpline and retuning advice;
• a 12 month digital TV aftercare service.

The standard offer for eligible people in the West TV region is 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, income-based jobseeker’s allowance or employment and support allowance, it’s free.

All eligible people in the 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 freepost 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 408 7654.

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

Ed Jezard, West network manager for the Switchover Help Scheme, 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-

Press contacts:

Rik Kendall
Media Relations Manager
T: 0191 245 8342
M: 07852134154
E: rik.kendall@eaga.com

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

NOTES TO EDITORS

Switchover Help Scheme

The Help Scheme is run by the BBC under an agreement with the Government to help older and disabled people make the change to digital TV. Eligible people are offered practical help to convert one of their TV sets to digital in the run-up to switchover in each region.

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 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.

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 calling 0800 40 85 900 or through 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, 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.