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NEWS STORY: JULY 2008

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Let's get digital!

Are you ready? It may be simpler and cheaper than you think!

Find out more at at www.digitaluk.co.uk

Between now and 2012, the nation is switching to digital TV. It's coming to our area between October and December of 2009. By then everyone will need digital to continue to view.

So how do you prepare?

If you’ve not gone digital already, you'll need some extra equipment for the switchover. There's a choice of ways to get digital TV and all the extra channels and interactivity it brings. It depends on the features you want, and what’s suitable for your home (there may be a problem putting a satellite dish on some properties for example). You can get digital:

through your aerial: you can connect to an 'integrated digital' television (IDTV) that comes with a built-in digital facility; or through a freeview set-top ‘digi-box’ for each TV in your home
through an aerial and phone line (BT Vision): this gives you more features than the aerial-only route
through a satellite dish from Sky: with or without a contract for extra channels
through cable from Virgin Media

Find out lots more at: www.digitaluk.co.uk or call 08456 50 50 50

What about the aerial?

If you choose to go through an aerial, and you have your own aerial now, it will probably be fine for the switchover. But if you have reception problems – if your aerial is old for example – you may need to get a new one. (Find out more about aerial quality on Teletext page 284).

You might think that forking out for more equipment is enough to make you choke on your TV dinner! But don't worry, it doesn't have to be expensive - you can get a set-top digi-box from around £20 from most large supermarkets and electrical stores.

Extra channels

If you don't do anything you won't be able to watch TV - so it makes sense to get everything sorted now so you can start enjoying all those extra channels. You'll even be able to listen to your favourite radio programmes through your TV as well as accessing special interactive features through your remote control.

There are plenty more channels than our usual five to keep the whole family occupied. So do a little research and make sure you're ready. Then the only problem will be fighting over the remote control!

Extra advice

If you’re 75 or over and get Attendance Allowance or Disability Living Allowance, or are registered blind or partially sighted, digital TV experts will give you personal advice to help you through. But they’ll only talk to you if you ask for help – no-one will come to your home unannounced. Look out for more information nearer the time.

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