• Border TV region
• West Country TV region

Border TV region

2 months to go

Not long now before the Douglas and Caldbeck transmitter groups switch over.

A two-stage switchover

Each transmitter group switchover happens in two stages, on two dates:

Switchover Stage One

The relay transmitter projected completion times are listed below. Analogue BBC Two stops broadcasting permanently. Some Freeview channels will be available from relays for the first time (BBC digital channels). In the Caldbeck transmitter group:

• Analogue ITV1 moves to the BBC Two slot at most transmitters, i.e. some viewers will not see anything at their analogue ITV1 button.
• VIDEO Plus+ ® will not work in the same way for ITV1.

All viewers need to install or re-tune Freeview, BT Vision or Top Up TV equipment - including homes in the Whitehaven and Copeland area that have already switched over.

Switchover Stage Two

All analogue services stop broadcasting permanently. The remaining digital channels become available and switchover is complete. All viewers need to install or re-tune Freeview, BT Vision or Top Up TV equipment - including homes in the Whitehaven and Copeland area that have already switched over. Analogue video recorders need to be "re-mapped" to the digital receiver for VIDEO Plus+ ® to work correctly.

Scottish services from the Caldbeck transmitter

For the first time, Scottish versions of BBC One and Two will be available to viewers in south-west Scotland watching Freeview.

Viewers receiving their signal directly from the Caldbeck transmitter are likely to find English BBC services at channels 1 and 2 on the EPG, and may find Scottish BBC services "parked" towards the end of the list. Viewers in south-west Scotland watching relays should find Scottish BBC channels loaded as channels 1 and 2.

West Country TV region

Switchover begins

As switchover starts at the Beacon Hill transmitter group, make sure you have considered the following:

• Staffing requirements for switchover - you will be busy.
• Re-stocking facilities - how quickly can you replenish stock if required?
• Re-tuning - how will you manage requests for help? Recent experience suggests many people can be helped over the telephone.
• Troubleshooting guides - Digital UK can provide a list of questions to help identify issues at switchover. Contact your Retail Support Executive.
• Troubleshooting guides - Digital UK can provide a list of questions to help identify issues at switchover. Contact your Retail Support Executive.
• Arm your staff with lists of products expected to stop working at switchover due to 2k chip sets, or re-tuning leading to Network Information Table issues.