Million viewers lose BBC2 in the big switch-over

NEARLY one million television viewers lost BBC2 yesterday as an analogue transmitter was switched off.

The channel’s signal disappeared in London and the Home Counties as part of the final stage in the changeover from analogue to digital television.

The switch-off affected almost five million households, who will experience similar difficulties when the signals for BBC1, ITV and Channel 4 are turned off in two weeks. But four million of these are thought to have had a digital alternative already in place.

The switch to digital began in 2006 but has moved into its final stages. The process will be completed in October, when Ulster and Tyne Tees become the last areas to be converted.

It is thought the process will cost £55million less than expected. The Government-backed changeover means that television reception will be received from digital signals rather than traditional signals received by an aerial via transmitters.

There are more than 1,150 transmitters in the whole of the UK, which have been gradually switched over to digital in the past number of years. The transmitter in Crystal Palace caused much of the disruption for London viewers, as it serves one of the highest populations in the country.

Despite a major advertising campaign to notify people about the switchover from analogue television to digital it is thought that hundreds of thousands were affected by the move.

It is thought that elderly and disabled people will have been particularly affected and require extra assistance with the switchover.

Deborah Bain from Digital UK, the body overseeing the switchover, said it received almost 5,000 calls from viewers yesterday. She said: ‘Almost all televisions have already been converted but we know that elderly and disabled people will need a little extra help. Among the one million sets are the older models found in bedrooms and conservatories but these must be converted or people will lose channels.

It is estimated that the switchover process will cost £6 0million and bring digital to 98.5 per cent of the UK population.

A number of areas in the south of England have yet to have their transmitters turned off but are expected to in the next two weeks.