North-west switchover date announced

Digital UK has announced the date for the digital switchover in north-west England.
Three million homes across the north-west will start switching to digital on 4 November 2009 when analogue signals are turned off at the Winter Hill transmitter group (the Granada TV region).
Latest research according to Digital UK indicates nine out of ten north-west viewers are now aware of digital switchover, and 91% have already converted their main TV set to digital.

On 4 November, BBC Two will cease broadcasting in analogue and the first group of Freeview digital channels will become available. Four weeks later on 2 December, the remaining analogue channels will be permanently switched off and replaced with additional digital services. Forty-eight Freeview channels will then be available via an aerial to a majority of households in the north west; some households will receive around 20 channels.
Jo Waters, Digital UK’s Regional Manager for the Granada TV region, said: “Most people in the region already have a choice of ways to get digital TV, and after switchover almost everyone will be able to get it through an aerial.
We’re now taking a roadshow across the region, so people can get personal advice on how to get ready and learn what help is available.”

The Digital UK roadshow is running in 45 town and city centres across the region until the end of November.
Viewers in the south of the region who receive their signal from the Moel y Parc transmitter group in north Wales will switch over on 28 October 2009, Digital UK also confirmed.