News Release

27th October 2009

Switchover Help Advice For Shetland Residents

Shetland islanders are being given the chance to get free advice about the help that is available to switch to digital TV.

Roy Longmuir, an expert from the BBC-run Switchover Help Scheme, is inviting residents to drop in to speak to him face to face to find out more about the help that is available for older and disabled people to convert to digital TV with the Help Scheme.

The events, which all start at 10am and end at 4pm, will be held at:

• Whalsay Leisure Centre - Tuesday 3rd November
• Scalloway Public Hall - Wednesday 4th November
• Toll Clock Shopping Centre - Thursday 5th November
• Unst Leisure Centre - Thursday 12th November
• Mossbank Community Centre - Tuesday 17th November
• Dunrossness Central Public Hall (Boddam Hall) - Thursday 19th November
• Burra Information Point - Tuesday 23rd November
• Islesburgh Community Centre  - Wednesday 24th November

Roy said: “If you’re eligible for help, you should now have received your Information Packs through the post. They explain what help is available to you to convert one TV to digital.

“I can help you to make your application for help or answer any of your questions in person if you come along to one of the events being run by the Help Scheme in November.

“Even if you’re not eligible yourself, I’d urge you to pop along for a few minutes to pick up some information. The chances are that everyone on Shetland knows someone in their family, street or community who might need a helping hand to switch to digital TV.

“You could be the one person they know or trust to give them good advice so they’re not left with a blank screen at switchover.”

As well as the Help Scheme events, eligible people are being asked to respond to their Information Packs as soon as possible as Help Scheme engineers will be working on the Shetlands in the run-up to Christmas to install digital equipment for people who have taken up the offer of help.

Roy said: “We’re encouraging you to take advantage of our team of installers working on the Shetlands between mid-November and mid-December.

“We’ll be able to respond very quickly to your applications to convert one TV to digital because we will be on the islands themselves at the time. We will be working with local installers to deliver the Help Scheme.

“For customers who would like a Freeview service in time for Christmas, now is the right time to get in touch with the Help Scheme.”

People are eligible if they are:

• Aged 75 or over;
• If they have lived in a care home for six months or more,
• If they get (or could get) attendance or constant attendance allowance, mobility supplement or disability living allowance,
• Or if they are registered blind or partially sighted.

For a one-off payment of £40, eligible people in the STV North region will be offered:

• Easy-to-use Freeview 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.

This service is free for people who are eligible and who also receive pension credit, income support, income-based jobseekers allowance, or employment and support allowance.

To make it even easier, eligible people can choose to apply by calling the Help Scheme free on 0800 408 7654 or instead they can nominate someone else to make their application for them.

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. Installers are vetted, carry identification and will never call without having made an appointment.

Media Contacts:

Sean Haran
PR and Communications Manager
T: 0191 245 8772
M: 07939147719
E: sean.haran@eaga.com

Sarah Fairfax
Communications Executive
T: 0191 245 8834
M: 07730424407
E: sarah.fairfax@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 408 7654 or through visiting www.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.