| FACTS
In July 2004 the government announced that the long awaited start of
changing us all over to digital television will commence some time during
2007 and should be completed by 2012.
What this means is that all existing analogue signals - the ones most of
us receive now - will be regionally switched over to digital signals.
Why?
Analogue television signals are very expensive to send out - they take a
lot of energy to cover a relatively small area. Analogue signals can be
distorted by interference from other electrical signals as well as by
reflections - double images called ghosting. And, if you are in an area
where the signal is not very strong, you may have a grainy or snowy
picture.
All these problems are eliminated when digital signals are used. Much
less energy is required to cover a larger area and ghosting and snowy
picture will be a thing of the past.
How?
It is anticipated that the switchover will take place in phases, probably
by television regions. There will be plenty of notice given before any
regions are involved in the switchover and even then it will be a gradual
process within the region, possibly by channels.
There will be information given out on television by the BBC and ITV along
with local newspaper releases and leaflets through your door. Of course,
your local television dealer will also be able to give you detailed local
information about digital television.
What next?
Well actually nothing - the first region to be part of the switchover is
not due to take place until 2007 at the earliest.
However, there are some things you need to think about.
Digital television signals are very different from the analogue ones we
get at the moment. They require different electronics in the receivers
and may require a different aerial from the one you have at present.
But this does not mean that you will have to buy a new television set just
because of digital. There are set top boxes that can be purchased
relatively cheaply which will receive the digital signals and allow them
to be viewed on your existing television set. In fact, you do not have to
have a digital television immediately. With set top boxes you can use
almost any television set to watch digital television.
This means that you can still buy analogue television sets and other
equipment and they will still work, with a set top box, after your region
has gone digital.
Remember that your video recorder will also require a set top box for it
to be able to record the digital signals for playback in the normal way
and that other television sets will need a set top box.
However, given the amount of time between now and switchover, most people
would have probably changed their television set by then anyway.
One other thing that may be required is a new aerial.
If you receive your television signals by cable or they are supplied by a
communal aerial system, then you need to do nothing as your supplier will
tell you what to do and when.
If you have an existing aerial either in the loft of your house or on the
roof, it might still be suitable for receiving digital television signals
and only a check with a digital receiver will tell you.
However, due to the way the digital signals are sent it is also probable
that you will need a completely different aerial from your present one.
Your local RETRA television dealer will be able to advise on this and when
he delivers your new digital equipment, he will be able to check the
suitability of your existing aerial. If it is not suitable he will be
able to supply the name of a reputable aerial contractor who will be able
to install the correct aerial for your area.
So what do I get, digitally speaking?
Firstly you will get everything that you get at the moment - BBC1, BBC2,
ITV, Channel 4 and Channel Five. There are a large number of people who
cannot get Channel Five at the moment, so digital will be a bonus for
them. In addition there are a number of totally free extra channels from
both the BBC and ITV and some of these are so called interactive.
Interactive TV is where you have a certain amount of control over what you
watch.
Finally, there is the opportunity to watch certain programmes for a fee
and these may be high profile programmes like special sports events. But
you do not have to subscribe to these if you do not want to.
So there it is - there are the facts. Eventually we will all be watching
digital television, but for some of us it may not be until 2012.
Look for the Digital Logo to indicate a source of expert digital
television information
Where can I learn more?
More information is available from the BBC
www.bbc.co.uk/digital
and from the Digital Television Group
www.dtg.org.uk
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