Information for residents
The Copeland area has become the first to switch to digital television in the UK. The switchover started on October 17 and was complete on November 14 2007.
You could choose to switch now either by subscribing to Sky or by getting freesat from Sky, for a one-off payment. Alternatively, a freeview box will give you access to 20 digital TV channels and 5 BBC digital radio channels through your TV aerial. To benefit from the new digital services make sure you retune regularly.
To compare the ways to get digital television please visit:
How is Digital UK helping people to prepare?
Information has been delivered to households in the area explaining what is happening including 'The Copeland guide to Switchover' (see downloads). There are also advertisements in local media and extra information is being made available through libraries and local retailers.
A number of Help Centres will be run from November 13th to November 15th to give anyone who needs it help for swithcover. Just drop in during the times below.
Where to buy
To find out where to buy any TV equipment you need for digital switchover, enter your postcode below. This will list your closest certified retailers and trained Digital Advisers who can help you with the switch to digital.
Whitehaven FAQs
- What will Whitehaven get as a result of switching?
- Why is Whitehaven going first?
- Will I lose access to TV through my aerial as a result of the Whitehaven switchover?
- How will I know whether my aerial needs work in advance of switchover?
- What help is on offer?
- Who is eligible for the Help Scheme?
- How much will this cost?
- What equipment will I get?
- What do I need to do?
- What does switchover in Whitehaven involve?
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What will Whitehaven get as a result of switching?
Viewers will go from having access to four channels via an aerial today to around 20 of the most popular Freeview channels including 11 radio stations and interactive services.
- Television channels: BBC1, BBC2, BBC3, BBC4, Cbeebies, CBBC, BBC News24, BBC Parliament, ITV1, ITV2, ITV3, ITV4, CITV, C4, C4+1,E4, More 4, Community Channel
- BBC digital radio services: BBC Radio 1, BBC 1Xtra, BBC Radio 2, BBC Radio 3, BBC Radio 4, BBC Radio 5 Live, BBC Five Live Sports Extra, BBC 6 Music, BBC 7, BBC Asian Network and Heart.
- BBCi Interactive “red button” services, Teletext, Teletext Cars, Teletext on 4.
- Remember all of these channels and more are already available now on Sky and freesat from Sky.
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Why is Whitehaven going first?
The Whitehaven area was chosen to lead the switchover process following a feasibility study led by Digital UK. Whitehaven was chosen because:
- It is an area of clearly-defined terrestrial television coverage with little TV signal overlap from other areas.
- The presence of three different transmitters (Whitehaven, Gosforth, Eskdale Green) make it suitable technically.
- Research shows that people in the region have the UK’s highest levels of awareness and understanding of switchover.
- The area has a good mix of households spanning rural and urban areas.
- The switchover will make one of the most popular ways of getting digital television (via a rooftop aerial) available to residents for the first time.
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Will I lose access to TV through my aerial as a result of the Whitehaven switchover?
Everyone with a good analogue signal via their aerial today should be able to receive a digital signal at switchover. For those living outside terrestrial coverage alternatives are available such as Sky Digital (monthly subscription) or freesat from Sky (one-off payment).
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How will I know whether my aerial needs work in advance of switchover?
A minority of homes will need a new aerial. As a rule of thumb, if you get a good analogue signal now, you should be able to get a good digital signal after switchover. If you have a poor analogue signal, consider having your aerial checked by a qualified installer. Digital UK has developed a handheld aerial checker which is available to rent from local retailers. This will allow viewers to test their aerial reception in their home. Alternatively, visit p284 and look at the grid of white boxes that appears. If the grid is missing four or more white blocks, it is likely you will need a new aerial. (Ignore any rows which are completely missing; this doesn't indicate a problem with your aerial.)
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What help is on offer?
The Help Scheme has been put in place to provide practical support to help people select, install and use digital TV equipment. Where necessary this may include the provision of a set top aerial or a rooftop aerial upgrade. Each eligible household will be provided with equipment to convert one set.
There will be Digital Help Centres running in the Copeland area over the course of Switchover week at Whitehaven Harbour (old Customs House), Cleator Moor (Civic Hall), Egremont (Falcon Club) and Seascale (methodist Church Hall).
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Who is eligible for the Help Scheme?
You are eligible if you, your partner or a dependent child are:
- entitled to one of the following social security benefits: Disability Living Allowance, Constant Attendance Allowance (CAA) under the Industrial Injuries Disablement Benefit scheme and CAA and War Pensioners Mobility Supplement under the pre-2005 War Pensions scheme.
- registered as being blind or partially sighted.
- 75 years or over
If you are eligible and you have a partner or dependent child who is also eligible then you will only get help to convert one TV set between you. However, if there is another adult living at the same address who is also eligible they will be counted as a separate unit and will also receive help to convert on TV set.
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How much will this cost?
The scheme will cost eligible households a subsidised amount of £40 for the basic equipment and help, unless you are on Pension Credit, Income Support or income-based Jobseeker's Allowance in which case it's free.
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What equipment will I get?
If you are eligible and you want to, you will receive help to convert one TV set.
- You can choose to get a Freeview digital box provided by the Scheme, and if required, help to install it and an aerial upgrade.
- Or you can choose to get a digital televsion recorder or a digital TV from the Scheme, for an extra cost.
- Alternatively you can get some money off a Sky subscription or Freesat from Sky.
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What do I need to do?
All residents in the switchover area have been sent a letter inviting them to apply for the scheme. If you think you are eligible, you will need to respond to the letter as soon as possible, or contact Digital UK on 0800 5 19 20 21.
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What does switchover in Whitehaven involve?
BBC2 analogue was turned off on October 17th and the first group of Freeview digial channels: BBC1, BBC2, BBC Three, BBC News 24 and CBBC have become available.
During this transitional stage, analogue ITV1 has moved to button 2 on remote controls to make way for the first group of digital channels.
On November 14th the remaining analogue channels will also be permanently switched off.
