Digital Switchover, Freeview et al.

Update 30/11/2007 - More news on BBC FreeSat (at end)Digital Switch OverWith Digital TV now reaching about 70% of UK homes and Analogue Switch Off looming ever closer everyone needs to be aware of one very simple fact IF YOU DO NOT ACT SOON YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO RECEIVE ANY TELEVISION PROGRAMMESAnd if that is not clear enough, let me put it another way. It means;No BBC1.No BBC2,No ITV.No Channel 4.No Five.No more Doctor Who or New Tricks or Eastenders.No more University Challenge or Egg Heads or Natural World.No more Coronation Street or Kingdom or The Bill.No more Countdown.No more House or Shark or CSI or Law and Order.In short. Nothing.That's Right, Nothing!If you do not have some means of receiving Digital TV you will get Zip. Zilch. Nada. No TV at all just 24 hour snow on all channels.Here in the South West TV Region the analogue television signals will be switched off in 2009 so we have about two years to sort things out...People in the Meridian, London, Tyne Tees and Ulster TV regions have got it easy, they have until 2012 before they go Digital and lose their analogue signals.However people in the Border TV region better start worrying as they will be losing their signal next year!What Do I Need To Do?Well, that depends if you want to continue watching television on not.If you don't then just sit back and do nothing. All your analogue TVs, VCRs, DVD / HDD recorders will be turned into glorified snow machines because that will be all you will be able to receive on them! No TV, just snow...However, if you DO want to continue watching television programmes [and I assume the majority of you do] you will need to buy some digital TV equipment. Exactly what, and how much you spend, depends on a number of things;How many televisions do you have?Do they have SCART or S-Video sockets?How many VCRs do you have?Do they have SCART or S-Video sockets?Do you have any HDD / DVD Recorders?Do they have SCART or S-Video sockets?Do you have SKY / Satellite?Do you have a viewing card?Solutions.There are basically three ways of receiving Digital TV in the UK;Freeview using a Set Top BoxFreeview using a Digital TVDigital SatelliteThe Set Top BoxThese are, usually, little Boxes that sit on Top of your television Set [hence the name].Their sole purpose is to convert those new fangled digital signals coming down your aerial wire that your analogue televsion simply doesn't understand into good old analogue signals that they do. Nice and Simple.Pros:CheapSimple to connectOften have good AV connectivityCan [usually] control a VCR through SCARTRF Out [if available] can feed the same signal to another TV, VCR, UHF distribution amplifier etc.Cons:It's a separate box which needs its own power socketAs such it needs to be connected to the TV, VCR etc. by SCART / aerial lead etc.It needs to be visible for remote control operationSome can be complicated to be program for timed recordingsThe Digital TelevisionThis is the new generation of television. They only understand digital transmissions. Plug them into the mains, connect up the aerial and voila! Digital Television in all its glory!Pros:The simplest way of getting Digital TVNeat and convenient in a single packageCons:ExpensiveIf used with a VCR via SCART will only record the progamme being watched on the TVDigital SatelliteWhen analogue TV is finally switched off in 2012 there will be quite a large number of homes [including the whole of the UK Channel Islands!] who will not be able to get Freeview. For these people there may be no option but to go with Digital Satellite.There will be three options available;BBC FreeSatSky FreeSatSkyBBC FreeSatThis is a 'not for profit' consortium headed by the BBC and the other ITV companies are already joining up. The aim is to produce an alternative to Sky and all current terrestial TV channels have either signed up or have indicated they will sign up when their existing contracts with Sky expire.A Freesat STB will be required to view this service which will have its own EPG (Electronic Programme Guide). The boxes are to be manufactured by third parties and sold in shops and other retail outlets. This is the same distribution model that has worked so well for Freeview.The basic service is guaranteed to be Free To Air (FTA) with the only costs being a one off charge for the STB and installation of the dish. It is highly likely that the platform will be used to add additional Pay TV channels in the same way that 'Top Up TV' has been piggy backed onto the basic Freeview service.Current indications are that the service will be launched in Spring 2007 and fully operational by Autumn 2008 but as STBs are not yet available this may be subject to change.The fact that the BBC are fully committed to this service (which has the backing of their Trust) and the other terrestial broadcasters are interested in saving the fees they currently pay to Sky for the use of their service bodes well for the success of the FreeSat service. Additional BBC channels including quality HD content will be added as the service matures.When available, the BBC FreeSat service will most probably be the best choice for the majority of people unable to get Freeview.Pros:No ongoing subscription charges for basic channel package.Will support HDTV.Cons:Not yet available.Full channel line up not yet known.STB features and facilities not yet known.Sky FreeSatThis is the Sky service which allows you to watch Free To Air (FTA) and Free To View (TFV) channels carried by Sky for a one off charge. The charge is

---

Orignal From: Digital Switchover, Freeview et al.