26m TV Sets Still To Go Digital

There are still 26 million television sets in the UK which need to be converted to digital or replaced before switchover, according to a new report from The National Audit Office.

Although the report found that 85% of households have already switched from analogue to digital TV for their main set, 31% of people do not understand that they will need some form of digital equipment in order to continue to receive broadcast television after switchover.

Understanding among some sections of the community – particularly ethnic minority and non-english speaking groups – is significantly lower, said the NAO.

It added that in the first seven months of 2007, 45% of all televisions sold in the UK were analogue, even though televisions are replaced on average every seven years.

The Government introduced a ‘digital tick’ scheme to inform consumers about television services and equipment that will work through switchover, but 25% of people do not know what the tick is, the NAO said.

Tim Burr, head of the NAO, said: The Government’s digital switchover programme will affect almost every home in the UK and most of the costs will be met by consumers. Helping consumers through the switchover process requires strong and coordinated working between Government and delivery agencies.

“Progress so far is encouraging, but there is a long way to go with almost one third of licence fee payers still not understanding switchover, up to 26 million analogue television sets yet to be replaced or converted and nearly 1,200 transmitter sites to be upgraded.”

Digital UK, the body in charge of the digital television switchover in the UK, recently announced it was putting almost £3 million into a scheme to support viewers not covered by the existing targeted help scheme (see Digital UK To Put £3m Into New Switchover Help Scheme).

The town of Whitehaven in Cumbria kicked off the digital switchover process last October, with the rest of the UK following until the completion date of 2012 (see Digital Switchover Begins Today).

National Audit Office: www.nao.org.uk