Digital UK appoints a network of regional and national managers around 18 months before switchover in each region. They are the link with each local authority and work closely with the local media and broadcasters, MPs, the Parliament in Scotland, the Assemblies in Wales and Northern Ireland, local voluntary groups and retailers. They also provide support to sectors such as business and tourism.
Regional and national managers work with councils to set up regional steering groups in the run-up to switchover. The structure will vary according to the area: for example, it could be a county-led group including districts; a partnership of authorities; or a wider grouping using existing regional structures.
Regional and national managers are available to come and talk to your members and senior officers about the implications of switchover in your authority. They coordinate regional activities with councils, charities, voluntary groups and schools.
In those TV regions where we do not have a manager yet, support and assistance is available by contacting localgov@digitaluk.co.uk.
Digital UK‘s communications campaign will tell consumers about switchover by regional advertising campaigns, mailing to each household and regional roadshow events:
- 18 months before a switchover Digital UK appoints a regional/national manager
- By 8 months Digital UK announces the dates for the first transmitter switchover in a TV region
- Between eight and five months, the Switchover Help Scheme will send the first direct mail from the first switchover, to eligible people inviting them to take up the offer of help to convert one television set in their home to digital
- At six months from switchover, Digital UK begins direct communications with viewers – leaflets, TV and radio ads, press, regional events and PR.
- At six months from switchover, viewers will see reminder captions on their TV screens and Digital Outreach, the local charity consortium, will deliver community outreach to potentially vulnerable consumers
Digital UK can provide text and graphics for your council to use in residents’ magazines and newspapers, council A-Z guide and internal staff magazines. You can also set up a link from your council’s website to the Digital UK site.
See how Burnley Borough Council tapped into its existing communications networks to build switchover awareness and how Devon County Council was fully prepared for switchover across its services.
