Get ready for digitial switchover, urges Dobson

Ulster Unionist Party MLA Jo-Anne Dobson has said that it is important that people in Banbridge are ready and prepared for the major changes in television which are due to take place later this year.

“In the first stage of the switch over the BBC2 analogue signal is due to be switched off on Wednesday 10 October and the remaining analogue channels are set to be switched off on Wednesday 24 October. Digital UK advice that on these dates you should re-tune your digital equipment to pick up the available channels.

“Help however is at hand.” said the Ulster Unionist MLA “The switchover roadshow will be visiting Banbridge on Wednesday 15 August and will be located in the Town Centre near Friar Tucks Restaurant in Bridge Street from 9am until 5pm.

“On that day experts will be able to give hands on advice and to answer any questions people may have about how the switchover will affect them. Full details will be available on the day about the different digital TV options which are open to you.

“Help is also available from the Switchover Help Scheme, which is run by the BBC to help older and disabled people make the switch to digital TV. To contact them and to find out about their eligibility requirements visit www.helpscheme.co.uk or telephone 08456 505050.

“Switching over to digital needn’t be all that expensive – check first if your existing TV can accept the digital TV signal or if a set-top box could be purchased to convert it to digital.

“I regularly receive enquiries to my office about the currently poor quality of the freeview signal some areas of Banbridge. I have been assured that the signal booster, which will be turned on when the analogue signal is switched off, will have a positive effect on the quality of the signal that local people will receive.”

Full details are available for people at helpscheme.co.uk or through Digital UK at digitaluk.co.uk or by calling 08456 50 50 50.