The UK is making this change because:

It’s fairer: today, one in four households cannot get digital TV through their aerial. Many can’t receive Channel five. By switching off the old analogue signal we can boost the digital TV signal to reach nearly all households, giving them a greater choice of affordable digital TV options.

It’s more efficient: switching off the analogue signal will free up capacity that can be used for new services such as TV services in either standard or high definition, wireless broadband, local TV, wireless home hubs and many others.

It keeps us ahead: moving to the best available technology maintains the UK as a world leader in broadcasting.

Consumers will get extra TV channels as standard, plus subscription channels, better quality pictures, new features such as on-screen listings and interactivity, and access services such as audio description and subtitling