Brits not switched on to digital switchover

Last week saw two significant announcements in the run up to the nation’s switchover from analogue to digital TV: Ofcom unveiled its latest Digital Progress Report and Digital UK announced the date that the first region would be switched.

Steve Weller, Head of Communications Services at uSwitch.com, comments:“Last week’s announcement by Ofcom that less than half (48%) of all UK television sets are already digitally enabled demonstrates a drastic need to boost consumer awareness of the digital switchover.

“Our own poll paints a very different picture of the UK’s awareness of the switchover to the one being portrayed by the organisations tasked to prepare us for the switch. It reveals that 8 in 10 adults (83%) do not know when their region will have its analogue signal switched to digital. Worryingly, we have found a lack of awareness not only about when the switch will happen but howpeople can prepare for it. Only 17% of adults fully understand all the ways they can ensure they stay switched on. Nearly a quarter of people are so ill-informed they could potentially end up throwing money down the drain by thinking they need to buy a brand new TV set, when in fact any TV with a SCART connection will be able to receive a digital signal.

“This is now becoming time critical – only last week Digital UK announced that Whitehaven in Cumbria will be the first region to have its analogue transmission switched off on 17th October. We urge Ofcom and Digital UK to ensure that all residents in the region are fully educated and supported, or they could risk losing television transmission all together. Despite the switchover being a Government initiative, over half the people we surveyed felt that it had not done enough to prepare them for the switch, which is staggering considering that it announced its digital plan a year and a half ago.

Weller concludes: “Our advice to consumers is to first establish when their region is scheduled to be switched over. Then, check online at either www.uswitch.com or www.digitaltelevision.gov.uk to see which digital services are available in their area. There’s enough choice available to meet all needs and budgets and I would emphasise that it’s highly unlikely that consumers will have to go out and buy a new TV set.”

Key digital switchover stats:

Ofcom

48% of UK TV sets connected to digital device by the end of 2006

One in four (25.6%) UK television sets are now connected to a freeview service

3.3 million homes in UK view digital TV via a cable connection

35% of UK homes, more than any other way to access a digital service, have a satellite service

uSwitch.com

80% of UK adults have digital TV in their home yet…

Over 8 out of 10 adults (83%) do not know when the analogue signal will be turned off in their region.

57% of adults (26 million) believe the Government has not done enough to keep people informed of the switch.

Only one in five (21%) adults know when their region will ‘go digital.’

A gap of up to 4 years exists between when regions think they will go digital and when they actually will.

12 million adults (nearly a quarter) wrongly believe that they may need a new TV set for the digital switchover.

The older generation has a better grasp of digital technology with 17% of over 55’s aware of all the ways to switch to digital, compared to just 11% of the 18-24 year olds.

Digital UK

Digital roll-out will begin in Whitehaven, Cumbria on 17th October