Digital switchover

Compared to analogue TV, digital TV creates new ways to enjoy your TV:

Extra TV channels as standard
You'll receive all your usual TV channels and many more as standard including BBC Three, ITV2, E4, More 4, S4C2, Sky News, Cbeebies, CBBC, CITV, ITV3 and FilmFour*
(*from July 2006).

Subscription channels
If you choose to take out a subscription, you can get many more dedicated channels including sport, films, music channels, and access to services that let you watch what you want, when you want.

Improved quality
Digital TV can improve the quality of your TV picture.

New features
Including on-screen TV listings, true widescreen picture and red-button interactivity.

Access services
Some digital boxes have special features for people with visual and hearing impairments such as audio description and subtitling. For more information on audio description call the RNIB on 0845 766 99 99.

With digital TV, sound and pictures from the broadcaster are converted into 'bits' of information and sent through an aerial, satellite, telephone line or cable. This digital signal is then turned back into pictures and sound by a digital box or a digital TV set.

If you currently receive just the traditional five UK channels (BBC One, BBC Two, ITV, Channel 4 and Five) – or only some of them – on any of your TV sets, you’ll need to think about your options for getting digital TV. Every TV set you want to keep watching in your home will need to be converted or upgraded to digital. You can convert your analogue TV to digital by purchasing a package such as Tiscali TV where you can enjoy a greater choice of channels for just £15.99 per month.

For some people, switching can be as easy as connecting their existing TV to a Freeview box. Others may want a greater choice of channels so they may choose a subscription service such as Tiscali TV.

To find out more information about when you switch to digital TV visit Digital UK at www.digitaluk.co.uk.

The process of digital switchover will take place between 2008 and 2012, TV region by TV region. The exception is Whitehaven, Cumbria, which became the first place to switch in October 2007.

Switchover is a complicated process, and needs to be done in stages so that everyone in the country will be ready for it.

The best way to check which TV region you are in is by seeing which ITV news service you receive or by going to Teletext page 106.

This map gives more information about when television will start to go fully digital in each TV region. Note that some regions will complete the process in the following calendar year.