Why switchover?

What are the benefits of switching to digital television?

Switchover is fairer. The Government believes that people should have a choice of options for getting digital television. Switchover brings digital terrestrial TV to nearly all households for the first time increasing the choice of affordable digital TV options. Only by switching off analogue signals will digital terrestrial TV be able to reach the same proportion of households (98.5%) as can currently receive analogue signals.

Switchover will upgrade the transmission network. Switchover will upgrade the transmission network to the best available technology and ends the costs of broadcasting the same content on analogue and digital.

Digital TV is more efficient. Digital TV can carry many more TV services in the spectrum previously occupied by one analogue service. Switching off the analogue services also frees up spectrum that can be used for a range of new services, such as extra TV channels in either standard or high definition, mobile TV and wireless broadband.

Switchover will ensure the UK keeps pace internationally. Switching the terrestrial TV system to digital will ensure the UK keeps pace with other countries. Most European states will have completed switchover by 2012.

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