Starting in 2007 and ending in 2012, TV services in the UK will go completely digital, TV region by TV region. This process is called digital switchover.

After switchover, all television in the UK will be digital. The UK’s old television broadcast signal (known as “analogue”) is being switched off and replaced with a “digital” signal. Any TV set or video recorder that’s not converted to digital when the switchover takes place will no longer receive TV programmes.

In 2009, the West Country TV region will switch to digital TV, becoming one of the first parts of the country to do so.

This is when switchover will take place in the West Country:
Second quarter of 2009
Beacon Hill transmitter, serving South Devon; including Plymouth Stockland Hill, serving South-West Somerset, parts of West Dorset and South-East Devon, including Exeter
Third quarter of 2009
Huntshaw Cross Transmitter, serving North Devon; Redruth Transmitter, serving West Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, Caradon Hill Transmitter, serving much of Cornwall and Devon, including Plymouth.

SWITCHOVER HELP SCHEME
You are eligible for help if you or your partner are: Aged 75 or over, or receiving certain disability benefits, or registered blind or partially sighted. If you are eligible, you will be asked to pay £40 towards the costs. However, if you or your partner are eligible and also receive: Income Support or Income–based Jobseekers Allowance or Pension Credit you will not have to pay anything towards the costs.
You can contact the help scheme on 0800 408 5900 to find out if you are eligible for help or e-mail info@helpscheme.co.uk