From October 2007 until 2013, the government will gradually turn off the country’s old analogue signal and move to digital, which will provide more channels, better-quality pictures and access to radio stations. The government said that viewers in Whitehaven, Cumbria, would be the first to have their signal switched off, on October 17. Although many UK homes do have digital TV one in four homes cannot currently receive it. By switching from analogue to digital all homes will benefit.

More than half the television sets in Britain will need to be upgraded to receive digital television, yet there is still widespread confusion about the switchover from analogue. About 52 per cent of all UK television sets are not digitally enabled, according to Ofcom, the industry regulator, yet millions of consumers are in the dark over what they need to do. For example, some 12m people wrongly believe they will need a new set, according to Uswitch, the comparison site.

All households within terrestrial coverage will still be able to receive the main five channels (BBC1 and BBC2, ITV1, Channel 4, and Five) and their associated digital-only services, including BBC3, BBC4, BBC News 24, ITV2, ITV3, E4 and More 4. A range of digital radio services will also be available. Then, depending on the signal in your area, you will also get music channels such as TMF and The Hits and shopping channels such as QVC.

Although more channels will be available via digital, the number of channels will still be lower than other digital platforms offered by either Sky Digital or Virgin media. Channels such as Sky Sports or Sky Movies will not be shown and you will need to subscribe to either Sky or Virgin to receive these channels.

Digital UK, an independent body set up to oversee the transition, recently launched an information campaign. Leaflets have already been sent to homes in Cumbria and to the southwest, northwest and Wales ahead of the switchover in 2009. To view more information on the digital switchover please refer to www.digitaluk.co.uk