Digital Switchover

Digital switchover involves the switch-off of the analogue terrestrial transmissions network that has been in place since the 1930s and its replacement with all-digital terrestrial network. At the moment digital and analogue signals are broadcast simultaneously. But whilst the analogue signal is maintained, the digital signal can't be broadcast in full and at full power across the UK.

Switchover will affect all viewers who have any televisions through which they can only receive analogue services BBC1, BBC2, ITV, C4/S4C and (where available) Five services through the TV aerial.

To receive TV services after switchover, all these televisions will need to be converted either by the purchase of a set-top box, or by the purchase of an integrated digital television (iDTV) which has an in-built digital tuner, or through connection to a cable or satellite digital service. Video Recorders will lose some functionality, for example they will no longer facilitate time-shift recording or record a different channel to that being viewed.

It will take around four to five years to complete the switchover process. It will take place region by region (very likely to be based on ITV regions). Viewers in each region will have a minimum of two years' notice about when the switching process will start in their region.

Below is a guide of how the proposed switchover plans may affect different regions in the UK, though this has not been finalised and maybe subject to change.

The exact order in which different regions are switched will be decided by technical and logistical issues. The regulator Ofcom has published an indicative regional order of how switchover might be achieved and dates each region would be switched to digital.