14 November 2007
The first digital TV switchover in the UK has now been completed - signalling another milestone in the national transition from the old analogue signal.
Residents of the Cumbrian town of Whitehaven and its environs now have no analogue channels at all - completing a process begun by authorities last month.
In a transition to be repeated around the country over the next five years, Freeview boxes have been re-tuned to take advantage of the new digital signals now using the spectrum freed-up by the analogue switch-off.
Chief Executive of Digital UK - the organisation charged with overseeing the transition - Ford Ennals advised consumers to switch to digital as soon as possible.
"I would urge anyone still relying on analogue television to take action...or risk being left with a blank screen," he said.
The Scottish Borders region will be the next to make the change, in a programme beginning next year.
However, news also came yesterday which cast doubt on the apparently slow speed of the UK's digital changeover.
With the London area one of the last regions to have their analogue TV signals switched off in 2012, the Guardian reports that people in the capital hoping to watch its Olympic games might face interference in their signals.
This is because neighbouring France will have already completed its switchover - and its more powerful digital signals might cause fuzzy pictures in Londoners' pre-transition TV sets.
The report is backed-up by research from the National Audit Office, which also states that industry watchdog Ofcom is negotiating with French regulators to "minimise the risk" of such interference.
© 2008 Adfero Ltd
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