Analog off on the coast

ANALOG televisions have been switched off in Aireys Inlet and Anglesea.

Digital TV has come early to the towns, with many parts of Victoria — including metropolitan Melbourne — not due to have their sets changed until December.

It comes after years of frustration with reception issues on the Surf Coast.

Residents previously voiced their pain at missing out on the broadcast of important events, including last year’s Geelong Cats Grand Final victory. Unlike most transmission sites, the Anglesea and Aireys Inlet facility cannot broadcast analog and digital TV at the same time.

So from this week, only analog TVs fitted with a digital set top box or new TVs will work in the towns.

Nerida O’Loughlin, head of the Federal Government’s Digital Switchover Taskforce, said for most people the switch would be easy and inexpensive.

For more information, go to digitalready.gov.au or call 1800 20 10 13.