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Permalink Reply by Richard McKeever on April 4, 2012 at 13:59

Around midnight last night the analogue signals carrying BBC2 were switched off as the move to a digital-only TV service in London began.

Everyone with Freeview now needs to re-tune their digital boxes as the channels have moved around. They will need to do this again sometime after the 18th of April when all the analogue services will be switched off. Any TV without a digital signal will have a blank screen after this time.

Older and disabled people struggling with switchover in the London region are being reminded that they can still get help with switching to digital TV. The Switchover Help Scheme is open for applications until May 18th and has been designed to make switching to digital TV easier particularly for older and disabled people.

People are eligible for help if:

• Aged 75 or over, or
• Have lived in a care home for six months or more, or
• Get (or could get): Disability Living Allowance (DLA), or Attendance or Constant Attendance Allowance, or Mobility supplement, or are registered blind or partially sighted

People can still take up the offer of help now even if they contacted the Help Scheme to opt out earlier this year. The Help Scheme can convert a second TV set in your home even if you already have digital on your main TV set. The Help Scheme will set up and install everything you need to make the switch to digital.  

Most people will be asked to pay £40 towards the standard option of help. For eligible people who are also on pension credit, income support, income-based jobseeker's allowance or income-related employment and support allowance, it’s free.

To find out about the Help Scheme call free on 0800 40 87 654.

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