Analogue switch off delayed
It seems the big analogue TV switch-off is suffering from the usual delays and hiccups this country specialises in. Culture Secretary, Tessa Jowell, has put back the switchover to digital to 2012. Initially, all analogue signals were to be switched off by 2010 but, following discussions with the broadcasters, the decision was made to delay the change over.
This is to give the public more time to get used to the idea, and purchase the necessary digital products, and also allows more time to get the necessary equipment up and running to provide digital to the whole of the country.
However, because the change is being made region by region, some areas may find their analogue signal goes off as early as 2007. Two villages in south Wales will be watching Pobol y Cwm in digital next year as they become part of an early trial for the analogue switch off.
According to Ofcom’s figures, 53 percent of households had digital television by 31st March 2004, a 3 percent increase from the previous quarter. This means that more than 13 million households in the UK have switched to digital so far.
