Digital TV Guides

A beginner’s guide to digital TV

Updated: Tuesday 23 February, 2010

By Becca Talbot - becca@consumerchoices.co.uk

Over 89% of households in Britain are already enjoying the benefits of digital TV*, and with the switchover due to be completed in 2012, you’ll need to be clued up on the best way to upgrade your viewing experience.

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Because the government wants to make sure that everyone has access to digital TV services by 2012, you’ll have to switch to digital before then. If you don’t you’ll lose your TV signal and won’t be able to watch your favourite programmes anymore. Therefore it’s essential you understand everything about digital TV, who offers it, how much it costs and what you’ll be able to watch on it.

This guide will give you the digital TV low-down…

• What is digital TV?
• What are the benefits of digital TV?
• What are the options for digital TV?
• Do I have to switch to digital TV?
• How do I switch to digital TV?

Video: What is digital TV?

What is digital TV?

Digital TV is a more efficient way of transmitting TV programmes than analogue signal. It offers a higher quality of service, with clearer pictures and sharper sound because it uses a digital signal rather than an analogue one.

With digital TV, sound and pictures are converted into a digital format and compressed, therefore the TV signals take up a lot less space in the airwaves (bandwidth), so there is room for more channels and features than the basic five channels available on analogue TV, as well as a host of other benefits, including high-definition (HD) channels and programmes.

The UK’s television service is being switched to digital gradually over the next few years. Some areas around the country are now only able to receive digital signals, while others can only receive some channels. Eventually however, everyone will need to switchover to digital.

What are the benefits of digital TV?

As well as improved picture and sound quality, switching your television service over to a digital one has several benefits. These include:

• More TV channels - You’ll receive more channels than the traditional five analogue channels with a digital service, such as ITV2, BBC3 and BBC4, and BBC News.
• Interactive features - Using the red button on your remote control, you’ll have access to a variety of interactive services, ranging from email and text messages to health advice and shopping. Some channels also allow you to watch live programmes, or repeated programmes via the interactive menu.
• On-screen programme guide - Most digital TV services will offer an electronic programme guide (EPG) which allows you to see the current and next programmes, as well as a breakdown of the coming week’s TV schedule. Some even have “reminder” features enabled, so you can make sure you never miss your favourite shows.
• Digital TV radio - As well as all the extra channels, digital TV gives you access to exclusive digital-only radio stations, such as the BBC’s Radio 6 and Radio 1Xtra, and Absolute Radio.

Digital TV also has more benefits for people with disabilities, especially those with hearing and vision impairments, with subtitles on many programmes and audio description on some. There is also the additional benefit of high-definition TV (HD), available through some digital TV providers.

What are the options for digital TV?

Digital TV is available in a number of different formats, with either a monthly subscription package or a free-to-view service. You have the choice of:

• Freeview digital terrestrial television (DTT)
• Cable TV
• Satellite TV
• Broadband TV (or IPTV).

There is also the option to watch TV online, on-demand, either for free on a catch-up service or on a pay-per-view basis, where you only pay for what you watch.

Do I have to switch to digital TV?

Eventually everyone will have to switch to digital TV. The government’s digital switchover programme started in 2008 with the ITV Border area, and should be completed in 2012 with Meridian, London, Tyne Tees and Ulster.

Residents in each area will get around two year’s notice before their analogue signal is switched off, to ensure that they’re well prepared.

How do I switch to digital?

Digital signals can be received via standard roof-top aerials, satellite dishes or through a cable TV connection, but have to be decoded and turned back into sound and pictures using a separate set-top box, or a built-in decoder in your television.

So to continue watching TV after the analogue signals are switched off in your area, you will need an integrated digital television or a set-top box to unscramble the signal.

If you just want a basic digital terrestrial TV package, you only need to make a one-off payment for your set-top box or integrated TV. But if you choose to go with a subscription provider like Sky (www.sky.com) or Virgin Media (www.virginmedia.com), your set-top box will be provided as part of a monthly subscription.

* Ofcom’s figures for digital TV take up in Q3, 2009

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