Digital UK yesterday announced the digital switchover dates for the Dundee area (and the rest of the STV North region) and I was quoted in last night's "Evening Telegraph" welcoming this - but stressing the need for viewers' queries on the switch to digital being fully and promptly addressed and that the Help Scheme for the over 75s and people with disabilities be well publicised. Here's the e-mail update I received yesterday from Digital UK (I have removed transmitter information for areas outwith Tayside) :
Dear Colleague,
I am writing to let you know that Digital UK is announcing today the exact dates on which viewers across the north of Scotland will switch from analogue to digital TV.
Switchover is a two-stage process that happens by transmitter group. At stage one, BBC Two will cease broadcasting in analogue and the first group of Freeview digital channels will become available from relay transmitters. At stage two, two weeks later, the remaining analogue channels will be permanently switched off and replaced with additional digital services.
Transmitter group : Angus
Area served : Angus, Dundee and Perth and parts of Fife
Stage one : 4 August 2010
Stage two : 18 August 2010
Stage one : 4 August 2010
Stage two : 18 August 2010
I am pleased to say that the switchover programme is making good progress. I have been working closely with national and local government, charities and voluntary organisations to help spread the word about switchover. Latest figures show that 93% of people in the north of Scotland are aware of digital switchover and 91% of households have already converted their main television set to digital.
The Switchover Help Scheme (www.helpscheme.co.uk), which is run by the BBC, under an agreement with the Government, will launch operations shortly in the area. A mailing to people who are over 75, eligible through disability, registered blind and those living in care homes, is due to begin in the next three to four months and run through to the beginning of next year.
The exact switchover dates for the transmitters in the STV Central region will be announced in due course.
If you need specific information about which digital options are suitable for your specific address, then do consult Digital UK’s predictive postcode checker (www.digitaluk.co.uk) or contact our call centre on 08456 50 50 50.
Please feel free to contact me, or my colleague John MacNeil, who is leading the day-to-day activity across the north of Scotland, if you would like to discuss any aspect of the digital switchover. We will always be pleased to help you in any way that we can.
With kind regards,
Paul Hughes
National Manager, Scotland