Scottish borders go digital

Analogue transmitters in the Scottish borders have been switched off, marking the UK’s first major transition to digital television.

Arquiva, the broadcast technology company managing the transmitters in the area, which also covers Cumbria, tested the signals from the new transmitters early yesterday morning.

A full switchover was completed at noon yesterday, which means around 52,000 households in the region can no longer receive BBC Two on analogue, with the remaining analogue channels due to be switched off on November 20.

The main Selkirk mast and 11 other transmitters in the area will offer viewers eight BBC digital TV channels, including BBC4, BBC Parliament and CBBC.

The border TV region is the first in the UK to be fully transferred to digital TV following a trial in Whitehaven last year – the full £1 billion region by region switchover programme is due to be completed in 2012.

Digital UK, the agency set up to oversee the switchover, has been offering people in the area advice and help through a six-month awareness campaign.

John Askew, Digital UK’s regional manager, said: “Technically the switchover has gone very well and the work has been carried out and completed.

“Most people have already bought equipment to watch digital TV, and were ready to plug it in,” he added.

Residents in the area will either need to buy a new TV set, sign up for satellite TV or purchase or update their existing set-top box to be able to receive digital TV.

Askew said: “We think that a small number, about 3%, are leaving it until the second switchover so that they only have to retune their sets once.”

Digital UK:www.digitaluk.co.uk