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DIGITAL SWITCHOVER
If you have been asking these questions Why can't I get Freeview? or Why can't I get Channel 5? then then the answer you are looking for is ... Digital Switchover! But what does it mean...? What will happen, why, and when?
We have digital tv already, so why is digital switchover happening?
All television is going digital because digital is much more efficient - it can offer more channels, widescereen pictures and even high definition. It is also less susceptible to reception problems like the ghosting and noise which can produce fuzzy pictures.
Current digital terrestrial ('Freeview') coverage is restricted by the need to prevent the digital services from interfering with the existing analogue pictures. Therefore digital coverage cannot be extended further until analogue is switched off. As this happens the power of the digital services from the main stations will be significantly increased and the analogue-only relay stations will become digital-only relays. These two factors wll fill in the current gaps in digital coverage. So, if you currently live in an area wih no digital terrestrial signals, you will get them after digital switchover.
When will it happen?
Thanks to the extensive publicity campaign I think most people now know that digital switchover is happening between 2007-2012. It is being done region by region according to the time table below. When each main station is switched it follows that all its dependant relays will also be switched at the same time. The exact timetable for each individual switchover will be likely to follow the pattern described here. Exact dates shown in the following table are the dates when the DSO process will complete each stage of the process. [Source: Digital UK]
| DSO1 (START) | DSO2 (FINISH) | STATION |
REGION | JOB DONE |
| 30-Mar-2005 | Ferryside | Wales |  |
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| 14-Nov-2007 | Whitehaven | Borders | |
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| 6-Nov-2008 | 20-Nov-2008 | SELKIRK | Borders | |
| 8-Apr-2009 | 22-Apr-2009 | BEACON HILL | SW England | |
| 6-May-2009 | 20-May-2009 | STOCKLAND HILL | SW England | |
| 18-Jun-2009 | 16-Jul-2009 | Douglas | Borders (Isle of Man) | |
| 24-Jun-2009 | 22-Jul-2009 | CALDBECK | Borders | |
| 1-Jul-2009 | 29-Jul-2009 | HUNTSHAW CROSS PSB | SW England | |
| 8-Jul-2009 | 5-Aug-2009 | REDRUTH PSB | SW England | |
| 12-Aug-2009 | 9-Sep-2009 | CARADON HILL | SW England | |
| 12-Aug-2009 | 9-Sep-2009 | Kilvey Hill | Wales | |
| 19-Aug-2009 | 16-Sep-2009 | PRESELY | Wales | |
| 26-Aug-2009 | 23-Sep-2009 | CARMEL | Wales | |
| 30-Sep-2009 | HUNTSHAW CROSS COM | SW England | |
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| 30-Sep-2009 | REDRUTH COM | SW England | |
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| 21-Aug-2009 | 18-Nov-2009 | LLANDDONA | Wales | |
| 28-Aug-2009 | 25-Nov-2009 | MOEL-Y-PARC PSB | Wales | |
| 2-Dec-2009 | MOEL-Y-PARC COM | Wales | |
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| 4-Nov-2009 | 2-Dec-2009 | WINTER HILL | NW England | |
| 4-Nov-2009 | 3-Dec-2009 | Long Mountain | Wales | |
| 10-Feb-2010 | 10-Mar-2010 | BLAENPLWYF | Wales | |
| 3-Mar-2010 | 31-Mar-2010 | WENVOE | Wales | |
| 24-Mar-2010 | 7-Apr-2010 | MENDIP | W England | |
| 5-May-2010 | 19-May-2010 | BRESSAY | Scotland (Shetland) | |
| 12-May-2010 | 26-May-2010 | KEELYLANG HILL | Scotland (Orkney) | |
| 2-Jun-2010 | 16-Jun-2010 | RUMSTER FOREST PSB | Scotland | |
| 7-Jul-2010 | 21-Jul-2010 | EITSHAL | Scotland | |
| 14-Jul-2010 | 28-Jul-2010 | SKRIAIG | Scotland | |
| 4-Aug-2010 | 18-Aug-2010 | ANGUS | Scotland | |
| 1-Sep-2010 | 15-Sep-2010 | DURRIS | Scotland | |
| 8-Sep-2010 | 22-Sep-2010 | Knock More | Scotland | |
| 29-Sep-2009 | RUMSTER FOREST COM | Scotland | |
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| 6-Oct-2010 | 20-Oct-2010 | ROSEMARKIE | Scotland | |
| 13-Oct-2010 | 27-Oct-2010 | Torosay | C Scotland | |
| 17-Nov-2010 | FREMONT POINT | Channel Islands | |
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| 30-Mar-2011 | WALTHAM Retune required | E Midlands | |
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| 13-Apr-2011 | WALTHAM Retune required | E Midlands | |
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| 30-Mar-2011 | 13-Apr-2011 | SANDY HEATH PSB | E England | |
| The three commercial multiplexes at Sandy Heath will remain on their pre-switchover channels and powers for a period after digital switchover. SDN will then temporarily move to channel 31 during the August 2011, before adopting its final allocation of channel 51 in 2012. Arqiva A will temporarily move to channel 67 during August 2011 before adopting its final allocation of channel 52 in late 2011. Arqiva B will adopt its final allocation of channel 48 during September 2011. | ||||
| 30-Mar-2011 | 13-Apr-2011 | Nottingham | Nottingham | |
| 06-Apr-2011 | 20-Apr-2011 | RIDGE HILL | W Midlands | |
| 06-Apr-2011 | 20-Apr-2011 | THE WREKIN PSB | W Midlands | |
After the PSB multiplexes switch at The Wrekin, the Arqiva multiplexes will remain on their pre-switchover frequencies and powers, and SDN will use a temporary frequency, for a short period before all three multiplexes adopt their final frequencies and powers during September 2011. During this transition period the commercial multiplexes will use the following frequencies: SDN ch49 and ch31, Arqiva A ch53, Arqiva B ch57. |
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| 06-Apr-2011 | 20-Apr-2011 | Bromsgrove | Bromsgrove | |
| 06-Apr-2011 | 20-Apr-2011 | Lark Stoke PSB | Stratford-upon-Avon | |
| 11-May-2011 | 25-May-2011 | DARVEL | C Scotland | |
| 11-May-2011 | 25-May-2011 | ROSNEATH | C Scotland | |
| 1-Jun-2011 | 15-Jun-2011 | CRAIGKELLY | C Scotland | |
| 8-JUN-2011 | 22-Jun-2011 | BLACKHILL | C Scotland | |
| 6-Jul-2011 | 20-Jul-2011 | SUDBURY PSB | E England | |
| 17-Aug-2011 | WALTHAM Retune required | E Midlands | |
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| 3-Aug-2011 | 17-Aug-2011 | BELMONT | Lincolnshire | |
| 3-Aug-2011 | 17-Aug-2011 | Olivers Mount | Scarborough | |
| 10-Aug-2011 | 24-Aug-2011 | Chesterfield | Chesterfield | |
| 10-Aug-2011 | 24-Aug-2011 | Sheffield | Sheffield | |
| 31-Aug-2011 | WALTHAM Retune required | E Midlands | |
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| 7-Sep-2011 | 21-Sep-2011 | EMLEY MOOR | Yorkshire | |
| 7-Sep-2011 | 21-Sep-2011 | SUTTON COLDFIELD | W Midlands | |
| 7-Sep-2011 | 21-Sep-2011 | Fenton | Stoke-on-Trent | |
| 14-Sep-2011 | 28-Sep-2011 | OXFORD PSB | S Midlands | |
| 14-Sep-2011 | SANDY HEATH Retune required | E England | |
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| 14-Sep-2011 | Hemel Hempstead Retune required | N Herts | |
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| 28-Sep-2011 | Lark Stoke COM | Stratford-upon-Avon | |
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| 28-Sep-2011 | THE WREKIN Retune required | W Midlands | |
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| 12-Oct-2011 | WALTHAM Retune required | E Midlands | |
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| 19-Oct-2011 | LONG MOUNTAIN Retune required | Wales | |
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| 19-Oct-2011 | Llangynog Retune required | Wales | |
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| 16-Nov-2011 | SUDBURY Retune required | E England | |
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| 09-Nov-2011 | 23-Nov-2011 | TACOLNESTON | E England | |
| 23-Nov-2011 | SANDY HEATH Retune required | E England | |
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| 8-Feb-2012 | 22-Feb-2012 | HANNINGTON PSB | S England | |
| 29-Feb-2012 | 14-Mar-2012 | MIDHURST | S England | |
| 7-Mar-2012 | 21-Mar-2012 | ROWRIDGE PSB | S England | |
| 7-Mar-2012 | 21-Mar-2012 | Whitehawk Hill | Brighton | |
| 4-Apr-2012 | 18-Apr-2012 | CRYSTAL PALACE | London | |
| 18-Apr-2012 | OXFORD COM | S Midlands | |
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| 4/18-Apr-2012 | HANNINGTON COM | S England | |
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| 9-May-2012 | SANDY HEATH Retune required | E England | ||
| 30-May-2012 | 13-Jun-2012 | HEATHFIELD | S England | |
| 30-May-2012 | 13-Jun-2012 | Tunbridge Wells | S England | |
| 30-May-2012 | 13-Jun-2012 | Hastings | S England | |
| 13-Jun-2012 | 27-Jun-2012 | BLUEBELL HILL | SE England | |
| 13-Jun-2012 | 27-Jun-2012 | DOVER | SE England | |
| 27-Jun-2012 | SUDBURY COM | E England | ||
| 12-Sep-2012 | 26-Sep-2012 | CHATTON | Tyne/Tees | |
| 12-Sep-2012 | 26-Sep-2012 | PONTOP PIKE | Tyne/Tees | |
| 12-Sep-2012 | 26-Sep-2012 | BILSDALE | Tyne/Tees | |
| 10-Oct-2012 | 24-Oct-2012 | LIMAVADY | Ulster | |
| 10-Oct-2012 | 24-Oct-2012 | BROUGHER MOUNTAIN | Ulster | |
| 10-Oct-2012 | 24-Oct-2012 | DIVIS | Ulster | |
Exact dates shown above are the dates at which Digital Switchover is scheduled for completion at each site. In most cases BBC2 will be switched off and replaced by the high power BBC-A multiplex two weeks prior to this date. (Source: Digital UK)
If you have heard that your local relay will not provide a digital service this is basically wrong. Almost all of the 1154 relay stations will provide at least three of the six digital multiplexes which make up the full digital terrestrial service. This will include Freeview HD. There will be a small handful of minor exceptions to this rule but in these cases other options are available.
What will we be able to receive?
After digital switchover there will be a total of six multiplexes. Each multiplex will carry a specific group of channels. Three of these will carry public service channels (e.g BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5 and Freeview HD services) and three will be commercial multiplexes carrying other stations.
The public service channels will be available from all the existing main stations and relays. This will mean that more than 98% of the UK population will be able to receive these channels.
The other three multiplexes carrying the additional commercial services will be available from the 80 sites which are (or were) transmitting the original low power DTT ('Freeview') service. The power at these sites has been (or will be) increased and the transmitting aerials improved and it is thought that at least 90% of the UK population will be able to receive them, though in some cases viewers may need to change their receiving aerials.
Will you need a new tv aerial?
| These sites also have more information: | |
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Your first port of call for information about Digital Switchover should be the UK Digital site. This has clear and simple information about what will happen and when. |
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| Arqiva own and operate the transmitters on behalf of all the major UK broadcasters. | 
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The Digital TV Group site is divided into sections with general news and information for both consumers and the industry Their postcode checker for Freeview coverage is also thought by some to be the most realistic |
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| The Freeview web site | 
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There is also the government's Digital Television site created jointly by the DCMS (Dept. of Media, Culture and Sport) and the DTI (Dept. of Trade & Industry). |
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| For those of you interested in more background details and reports check out the Ofcom site. | 
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| If you need a Freeview box try TVonics, who have a range of Freeview boxes and recorders including a new Freeview HD+ box with a recorder. |  |
Will you need a new tv aerial? >
More technical facts and figures about DSO >
Transmitter Information | Transmission Gallery
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