August 3, 2011 10.10 am This story is over 150 months old

Lincoln digital switchover begins

Switchover: The first phase of the digital switchover in Lincolnshire and East Yorkshire is now underway.

Analogue signals are being turned off in Lincoln and across Lincolnshire and East Yorkshire, as the first phase of the digital switchover begins on August 3.

The start of TV switchover means thousands of viewers in digital blackspots such as Lincoln can get BBC Freeview channels for the first time, while picture quality should improve for many existing viewers.

Homes already watching Freeview will need to retune their TVs and boxes in order to regain BBC services, which will be missing this morning.

Switchover began in the early hours when analogue BBC Two was permanently turned off at the Belmont transmitter group, which serves 712,000 homes.

The process will be completed on August 17, when the remaining analogue channels will be switched off.

Further Freeview channels from ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5 will then be available from local transmitters for the first time.

John Askew, Digital UK Regional Manager for Yorkshire, said: “This is great news for East Yorkshire and Lincolnshire, as many people are receiving new channels for the first time.

“Those viewers who haven’t switched to digital should prepare for August 17, when the last analogue channels will be permanently switched off.

“Our advice is: get ready now – don’t leave it until the last minute,” Askew added.

Source: Digital UK