News Release

25th January 2012

Switchover Help Scheme Delivers Digital to Older and Disabled People in London TV Region

Help Scheme makes it easy to switch to digital TV

Local pensioner, Norah Smith, is all ready for switchover in April – thanks to the Switchover Help Scheme.

In April 2012, the Crystal Palace transmitter, which serves Greater London and parts of the Home Counties, begins to switch to digital. All analogue channels will be switched off and some people may need help making the switch to digital TV.

Run by the BBC, the Help Scheme offers everyone aged 75 and over or eligible disabled practical help to switch one of their TVs to digital in the run-up to switchover.

Norah, 93, is an avid sports fan and an Arsenal supporter. Norah can now watch new television channels and is also very excited about watching the forthcoming Olympics on her new equipment.

An approved installer visited Norah with everything she needed to make the switch to digital and demonstrated her easy to use new equipment. Norah said:

“I love watching sport and I support Arsenal although they are not doing too well at the moment, but my favourite is the Rugby. They are real men, tougher than the football players and I’m glad Gavin Henson is getting back in the game”.

Norah’s son arranged for her to switch to digital when she received her pack in the post and is very happy with the results. Norah continued:

“I had a new aerial and new equipment and the engineer showed me how it worked and explained it all very clearly, I’m over the moon with it.  TV is good company for me and if I’m not watching the sport, I love the old comedies like the Two Ronnie’s and Only Fools and Horses”.

Adeola Olabode is part of a team Help Scheme workers in the London TV region helping eligible people like Norah to make the switch to digital TV as easy as possible.

Adeola said: “Not everyone finds it easy getting used to new equipment, but once you 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”.

People are eligible for the Help Scheme if they are:

• Aged 75 or over, or
• Have lived in a care home for six months or more, or
• Get (or could get):
  • Disability Living Allowance (DLA), or
  • Attendance or Constant Attendance Allowance, or
  • Mobility supplement, or
• Are registered blind or partially sighted

Most eligible people will be asked to pay £40 towards the standard option of help which includes:

• Easy to use equipment to convert one set
• An approved installer to supply and install the necessary equipment, and
• A 12 month aftercare service including a free helpline

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

People that are eligible for help will have received an information pack in the post and must respond to get help. Completed information pack forms can be returned to the Help Scheme, but to make it even easier to apply, eligible people can also choose to call the Help Scheme free on 0800 408 7654.

ENDS

Media contacts
For more information please contact the Help Scheme Press office on on 0800 40 87 658  or email pressoffice@helpscheme.co.uk. 

Notes to editor:

The dates for switchover in the London are as follows:

Crystal Palace Greater London and parts of the Home Counties 04.04.12 18.04.11

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. Also eligible are people who get (or could get) attendance or constant attendance allowance, mobility supplement, or disability living allowance and those who have lived in a care home for six months or more.

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, income-based jobseekers allowance or income-related employment and support allowance.

For further information visit 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.

For further information visit digitaluk.co.uk