What is the Digital Switchover?   By the end of 2012, all TV in the UK will be broadcast digitally. The change from traditional analogue signals to digital signals is being undertaken on a region-by-region basis, this process is called ‘digital switchover.’ Anyone wishing to watch television following the switch must be able to receive digital broadcasts.

What is the Digital 'tick' logo?     This logo (usually a pink tick in a box following the word 'digital') appears on products and services that are designed to work after the digital switchover. It is worn by Aerial Installers with Registered Digital Installers (RDI) accreditation.

What channels will be available as a result of switchover?   Switchover will make digital television available to virtually all UK households, but the channels that are available depend on the type of Freeview box you have purchased, some requiring a small subscription service to add Setanta sports, for example.

I don't currently have digital TV, will I have to switch?  The official switchover from analogue to digital TV has already begun  (October 2007) The entire UK will have been converted by the end of 2012, although many British homes already have digital equipment installed and more people than ever are using their computers to view programmes over the internet. Once the switchover is complete, you will need a digital format whether that is via Satellite, Digital Aerial or Cable.

Will I lose TV channels if I don't switch?   Once your TV region has switched, you will not be able to watch TV using the traditional analogue signal through your TV aerial. Getting digital TV using whichever media you choose is the only way to ensure you won't lose your favorite channels.

Will I have to buy a new TV set?  Most televisions, even older or black and white sets, can be converted to receive digital broadcasts. If your TV was manufactured after 1996, it will probably have a SCART socket (the rectangular socket with holes for 21 pins) A SCART lead is the best way to connect your digital box to your TV set, but if you don't have a SCART socket other methods are available – please ask us for the available options.

Will I need to retune my TV?   If we complete an installation for you our engineer will do this for you as part of your installation. They will also show you how to use your new equipment and make sure everything's working.

Will I still need a TV license?  The TV licensing requirements remain the same – you will need to buy a license for your household to receive television programmes whether you watch BBC programmes or not.

Will the switchover affect my video recorder?  You will still be able to watch video cassettes on your TV set using a VHS video recorder. You can record one digital channel in the same way you would record an analogue channel, but you cannot watch another while you are doing this. To record one channel while you're watching another, you'll need a digital TV recorder (DTR) with two or more tuners. Using these units is easier than setting a video – you can pause and rewind live TV, or set your box to record the entire run of a selected series.

Is digital TV the same as High Definition TV (HDTV)? HDTV refers to a screen definition standard that offers sharper images, rather than the digital compatibility. If you're buying an HD TV, look for the digital 'tick' logo on your set, which tells you that the TV is designed to work with digital.

Will analogue radio be affected by the digital switchover?  No. The digital switchover only affects television signals. You will still be able to receive your current choice of radio stations on your radio. Digital TV receivers also receive digital radio stations allowing you to access a wide variety of mainstream BBC and commercial radio stations, specialist news, genre music and entertainment programmes.