Digital switchover begins in Borders

Published on 06/11/2008 22:19

THE first full-scale digital television switchover in the UK got under way in the Borders yesterday.

Analogue BBC2 was switched off at 12:31am in the first stage of the nationwide programme.

The replacement digital service was activated at 10:05am. About 52,000 households in the Selkirk transmitter group were affected by the changes. Viewers had to prepare for the changes by making sure they had equipment that can pick up the digital signal, such as a Freeview box or a television fitted with a digital receiver. The changes mean viewers will be able to receive a greater number of channels through their TV aerials.

Digital UK, the independent body overseeing the switch, said about 97 per cent of people in the area had digital television plugged in or the equipment ready to go.