Thousands not ready for digital TV switchover
Around 32,000 homes in the West Midlands are still not ready for the digital TV switchover – despite it being less than a month away.
Around 32,000 homes in the West Midlands are still not ready for the digital TV switchover – despite it being less than a month away.
New figures show thousands of people in the region risk getting caught out when the main transmitter switches to digital next month.
And it is feared pensioners are most at risk of blank screens as they struggle to understand the changes. Almost all viewers in the West Midlands receive analogue signals through the Sutton Coldfield transmitter.
This will enter stage one of the switchover on September 7 and stage two on September 21.
Around 95 per cent of homes in the West Midlands have now converted their main set to digital or have equipment ready to go, while eight out of 10 have converted every television set in their home.
But Peter Last, chairman of the Walsall Pensioners Convention, said he feared the majority of those yet to switchover could be elderly people.
Television and electrical stores today said they had noticed a marked increase in people making the change over the past few weeks.
Doug Jones, owner of Kings TV Service in Stafford Road, Wolverhampton, said: "We've been busy over the past few weeks.I would say we have had around 15 people coming a day about the digital switchover."
Anyone with questions can call the Digital UK advice line on 08456 505050 or visit the website at www.digitaluk.co.uk
By Catherine Dalton