Time running out to switch to digital TV

The Going Digital countdown is on and Porirua procrastinators may be without television if they don’t act soon.

Television will go digital in the lower North Island on September 29 and one in 10 households are yet to make the switch from the old analogue signal.

By October 1 everyone in this district will either need a television with Freeview built in, a digital capable set-top box and aerial or satellite dish, or be using SKY or IGLOO.

Avid recorders will also need to make sure their recording devices are digital and may need to consider a Digital Personal Video Recorder such as MyFreeview or MySky.

Going Digital national manager Greg Harford urged Porirua residents to take action.

‘‘When people in the South Island went digital in April there were some who waited until the last minute and then had to go without TV for a time because installers were fully booked,’’ he said.

Aerial Masters installer Noel Curley said he was booked-up for a fortnight ahead already. Some people had phoned him thinking they could get sameday service.

However, a Clear Vision company representative said that considering the urgency, business had not picked-up as he would have expected.

He recommended people act immediately.