If you currently receive just the traditional five UK channels (BBC One, BBC Two, ITV, Channel 4 and Five) – or only some of them – on any of your TV sets, you’ll need to think about your options for getting digital TV. Every TV set you want to keep watching in your home will need to be converted or upgraded to digital.

How do I get set for digital?

For some people, switching can be as easy as connecting their existing TV to a Freeview box. Others may want a greater choice of channels so they may choose a subscription service such as Sky, Virgin Media, or TopUp TV.

Others may want a non-subsciption satellite service such as Freesat or Freesat from Sky. And some may choose to switch to digital TV with a broadband TV service such as Tiscali TV or BT Vision. For full details of all the digital TV options, click through the link below.

How do I know what to buy?

You don't need to replace your existing TV unless you want to but you will need a digital box (via aerial, satellite dish or cable).

However if you are thinking of upgrading your current set consider getting a TV with a digital box built in (a "digital TV") and look for the 'digital tick' logo .

And don't forget your video recorder if you use a video (VCR) or a DVD recorder for recording you will still be able to record and play back tapes/DVDs as before. But, if you want to record one digital channel while you are watching another, you'll need a digital TV recorder with one or more digital tuners (Freeview Playback, Sky+ or ntl:Telewest TV Drive).

In January 2008 we're introducing the Digital Logo Scoreboard as an extension to the digital tick certification mark. The Scoreboard will be featured on product packaging to help highlight to consumers things such as accessibility options and the energy efficiency of a product. Listing these key features should help you make a more informed choice when purchasing new equipment and preparing for digital switchover.

Further advice

Ricability digital TV website

For detailed advice on which digital boxes, televisions and aerials to buy, visit Ricability - an independent consumer research organisation which has compiled reports on all these products.

Digital UK has commissioned Ricability to independently test registered digital TV products to recommend which are the easiest for the owner to install and re-tune. Between April and June 2008 recorders, set-top-boxes and iDTVs will be tested. The results will be published on the Ricability website. Look out for the Easy to Install badge in stores. The badge (shown here) will be on products recommended by Ricability as easy to install and easy to re-tune.

If you opt for a subscription service like Sky TV or Virgin Media, your supplier will install the equipment for you.

Remember: you can be environmentally friendly when you switch to digital

 If you are replacing your television set, look for an integrated digital television that carries the 'Energy Saving Recommended' logo (a blue triangle). This shows that the product is considered 'energy efficient' and uses less energy than the average television set. For more information on energy consumption and digital TV click here.

How do I find a local electrical retailer?

Please click here to find a local electrical retailer near you. This list finds retailers that are  licensed under the digital switchover logo scheme.