Digital switchover gets under way for Lothian viewers

THE switchover from analogue to digital TV got under way in the Capital today as thousands of homes tuned into Freeview for the first time.

The second last switchover to take place in Scotland means nearly 24,000 homes in West Linton and Penicuik, as well as in Fife, will now be able to watch Freeview for the first time after previously living in "digital blackspots", while picture quality will improve for many existing viewers.

The change requires every Freeview viewer to re-tune their TVs and boxes in order to regain BBC TV channels which were missing this morning.

The switchover will be completed on June 15, when the remaining analogue channels will be turned off.

Further Freeview channels from STV, ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5 will then be available from local transmitters.

Paul Hughes, Digital UK national manager for Scotland, said: "Anyone who hasn't yet switched to digital should do so now, as the last analogue signals will be turned off this month."

A help scheme is still running for eligible older and disabled people on 0800 40 85 900.