by Joanne Smedley

Created on: November 30, 2008   Last Updated: July 25, 2011

The move to an all digital broadcasting network in Europe is well underway. Television broadcasting services signed up to the European Conventions recommendations in 2005 and ultimate switch off of all remaining analogue transmitters throughout Europe is expected in 2015.  

The UK and Ireland are well ahead of the 2015 deadline, with complete shut down of the analogue transmitters expected in 2012.  Analogue transmitters in the UK are gradually being turned off region by region, with some regions such as the borders, having already gone totally digital.  To find out when exactly your own transmitter is turning off, visit

http://www.digitaluk.co.uk/when_do_i_switch, which will give you the shut down information for your postcode area.

With the deadline looming, what are your options?

Terrestrial TV

If you think "going digital" means you lose your free access to the traditional analogue stations then think again. Many new television sets incorporate what has been termed a "digi-box", "set top box" or "digital decoding device", which automatically receives and decodes the new digital signals received by your normal television aerial.

For those who do not wish to buy a new television set, then purchase of a low cost digi-box which you connect to your aerial and then into your television set, such as "free-view" or "free-sat" will ensure you still have access to not only your original 5 channels, but also to many more which are transmitted free of charge.

For an additional "top-up" monthly subscription fee to a service such as BT vision or Virgin Media you can also receive many of the channels usually reserved for Satellite or Cable users.

The main difference between the old analogue transmission and the new digital transmission is that each television set in your home will need its own decoder. If you have more than one television you will need more than one digi-box, or a means of routing each television aerial through the decoder before it reaches your individual sets.

Satellite and Cable

Satellite and Cable networks remain unchanged by the digital switchover. Simply tune your television as normal.

Other Considerations:

• Aerial

Although many television aerials are already configured to receive the new digital signals it is estimated that 5-10% of existing rooftop aerials and 50% of set top aerials will need upgrading. If you know your aerial is old, you may want to get this checked before the switch over occurs in your area.

• Video Recorder

As the signal now has to be decoded before it reaches the television ordinary use of a video recorder to record one channel while you watch another cannot take place.

Luckily, there are many digital recording devices that incorporate the decoder which do allow you to watch one channel while recording as many as two others. These are rapidly coming down in price and are well worth looking into if you prefer to record your television.

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