Freeview
Over the next few years, television will be switching from the current analogue transmissions over to the superior digital broadcast. Currently about sixty-three percent of the country can receive these digital broadcasts and that will rise to cover the entire country by the end of 2012.
Sky - Essential HD Television.
Comet
Currys
Digital Direct
Direct TVs
Dixons
Empire Direct
Maplin
Sound And Vision
This is going to be the biggest change in broadcasting in many years - in fact since the introduction of colour television way back in 1967! This updating of the system will be done region by region between 2008 and 2012. It will be done by ITV regions, depending on where you live. This is currently set as follows:
2008 Border
2009 Westcountry, Wales, Granada
2010 West, Grampian, Scottish
2011 Central, Yorkshire, Anglia
2012 Meridian, London, Tyne Tees, Ulster
All of this is happening because the Government wants everyone to enjoy the many benefits of digital TV, including the greater choice of digital TV options at affordable prices. Currently one in four households cannot receive the full range of digital services through their aerial and one in five households cannot receive channel Five. The digital switchover ensures that the number of houses gaining these services will increase greatly over the next few years. This project is being run by Digital UK, an independent not-for-profit organisation that is co-ordinating the switchover to digital TV.
The Advantages of Digital TV
Digital TV will still provide all of the channels you receive today including BBC One and Two, ITV, Channel Four and Channel Five plus Teletext and subtitling services. In addition, depending on your equipment and how you choose to get digital TV there will be extra channels and services at no further cost including BBC Three and Four, BBC News 24, CBBC, CBeebies, ITV Two and Three, Sky News, E4 and radio services. It will also be possible to subscribe to extra channels and radio stations offering films, sports and more besides.
How to Go Digital
To receive digital TV you need to have a digital tuner inside your television and most new televisions now come with this inbuilt. However if your television does not have an inbuilt digital tuner it is still possible to receive digital TV on your current set by connecting a digital box (often known as a “Set Top Box”) to the back of your television. The same rule also applies to video recorders, to be able to watch one channel whilst recording another you will need to have a recorder with an inbuilt digital tuner. Your current video recorder will still be able to record what you are watching but without having a digital tuner it will not be able to record a different channel to the one you are watching.
To find out exactly what you can get in your area check online at www.digitaluk.co.uk.
© AV Shopping.co.uk 2006.
