After switchover, most UK households will be able to receive their television signal from a main transmitter which will broadcast around 40 Freeview digital channels. Optional subscription services such as Top Up TV and ESPN will also be available.

One-in-ten households get their television signal from local relay transmitters which will broadcast approximately 15 of the most watched free to air digital channels and text services. These will include the public service channels BBC One, BBC Two, ITV1, C4 (plus S4C in Wales) and Five and a range of associated digital channels such as ITV2, E4 and BBC Three.

More free to air and subscription channels are available from other digital platforms such as satellite (eg Sky) and cable (eg Virgin).

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Television signals can be received via an aerial, satellite, cable or broadband connection. Switchover affects any TV that receives its signal from an aerial. If you use an aerial, it will receive its signal from a transmitter. In the UK, there are more than 1,150 transmitters organised into around 80 transmitter groups that switch to digital one by one. Each group has a main switchover transmitter and local relay transmitters.

Before switchover, local relay transmitters are only able to transmit an analogue TV signal. After switchover, for the first time, all transmitters including local relay transmitters will transmit a digital signal and increase the number of channels available from around 5 to around 15.

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Aerials are often optimised to receive a specific range of grouped channels. These groups are identified by different coloured stoppers at the front of the aerial (e.g. Red for group A, yellow for group B, green for group C and D, brown for Group E and black for wideband aerials). An aerial installer can tell you which frequencies are grouped together.

Aerials are often optimised to receive a specific range of grouped channels and the type of aerial you have is identified by a coloured plastic bung at the front, and also by the spacing betweem elements. Wideband aerials can be recognised by having elements of different lengths and spaces. A black 'stopper' in the front of the aerial distinguishes it from grouped versions.

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Some households watching main transmitters may need a wideband aerial to receive all the channels available. To find out which aerial you need for your region and transmitter group check our aerial page.

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Aerial polarisation refers to the alignment of an aerial in relation to the waves it receives. To receive reception from a main transmitter in your area, you will usually require a 'horizontally polarised (aligned)' aerial. To receive reception from relay or repeater transmitters in your area, you will need a vertically aligned aerial.

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Different aerials work with different types of transmitters. To receive reception from a main transmitter in your area, you will require a 'horizontally aligned (polarised) aerial. To receive reception from relay or repeater transmitters in your area, you will need a vertically aligned aerial.

Where you live and the type of aerial you have wil dictate where you can get your signal from. Use our postcode checker to find out which type of aerial you should have and which way it should be pointing.

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