Are you ready to go Digital?

With less than 12 months to go before Rochdale makes the digital television switch over, Digital UK is urging viewers to make sure they are ready.

Almost nine out of ten households in the town now has a digital television set ahead of the 4 November switch over.

Television in Rochdale is powered by the Winter Hill transmitter, which lies between Manchester and Preston.

Anyone without digital TV needs to be prepared for the first stage of the switchover on 4 November 2009. On this date BBC Two will go digital and some new digital channels will become available. Anyone who has not switched will lose BBC Two. People with Freeview, BT Vision or Top Up TV will need to re-tune their equipment.

On 2 December 2009 all remaining analogue channels will switch to digital. Anyone that has not switched to digital by this time will lose their television service. Again those with digital equipment will need to re-tune their equipment.

Research in north west stores found that 78% of retail staff were able to explain to customers their options for getting digital TV, three quarters (76%) discussed switchover during enquiries about digital TV and 74% gave a switchover date for the north west.

However, only 52% of retailers had switchover information in store and just 42% explained what will happen to video recorders after the switchover.

Starting early in the new year, the six-strong retail support team will develop relationships with store managers and their staff. They will supply point of sale material, offer staff training and recruit new stores to the ‘digital tick’ scheme.