Half-a-million homes not yet ready for digital TV

?Around 500,000 homes in the Midlands are still not ready for the digital TV switchover - less than four months before analogue signals are switched off, it was revealed today.

Homes in parts of South Staffordshire and Shropshire will be among the first in the region to lose analogue reception, meaning only viewers with digital receiving equipment will be able to watch TV.

But Digital UK, which is co-ordinating the transition, said today that up to 500,000 homes in the central region were still watching old-style analogue TV.

The digital switchover, which promises better picture and more channels, is happening in phases during April and September.

New TVs or older models which have been connected to a set top box, which cost from around £30, will be needed to watch shows from that date.

Digital UK spokesman Chris Cain said the number of people still unprepared for the switchover were "as expected".

He also said that 90 per cent of the central region's 4.2 million homes already had digital on their main set and almost three quarters of homes had converted or upgraded every set in their house.

Mr Cain said: "Detailed booklets on switchover are just about to be delivered to the first homes set to switch and adverts will then start for those switching later in the year."

Electrical shops say there has been a marked increase in TV sales over the last year, as people upgrade to digital-ready and high definition sets.

Jim Corbett, from Wombourne TV and Lighting on the High Street, said: "Many people are aware they will need digital to watch television. There has been a marked increase in sales of digital televisions over the last 12 months.

"A lot of people are generally changing their sets because it is a lot easier to operate a new TV than adding digital to an old set."

Doug Jones, who owns Kings TV Services, in Stafford Road, Wolverhampton, said he expected sales to increase further in the coming weeks."