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How do I get Digital TV?
Keep your needs in mind when choosing your digital connection. If you don’t watch much television then you’re probably best going for digital terrestrial TV (DTT) which is free to view or an on-demand service. However, if you do want the extra channels available with a subscription from cable and satellite you could go for a bundled package and combine your broadband and home phone to save on the overall monthly cost.
Digital terrestrial television
DTT is the cheapest way to get your digital connection and is broadcast in a similar way to the current analogue signal. The digital signal will be received by your television aerial, but you will need a set-top box or integrated digital TV to decode the signal for viewing.
There is no monthly fee; you just pay for the box or the integrated TV and get access to the 40+ current Freeview (www.Freeview.co.uk) channels, which are growing all the time and which include the traditional analogue channels.
There are also an additional 12 paid-for channels available with Top Up TV (www.TopUp.tv).
Digital cable services are delivered to customers via fibre-optic cables and are decoded using a set-top box which is provided as part of your subscription package. Cable television is supplied by Virgin Media and could be a good option for people with broadband and a phone at home as these services can be bundled to save money.
Also, getting your broadband through a cable connection means you don’t need a phone line, so if your home phone is only used for the internet, you could make further savings by getting rid of it.
The cost of your package varies depending on how many, and which, channels you want, but you have to live in a Virgin Media area to get digital cable television.
Check out the Virgin Media website for more information.
Satellite
Again, you will need a set-top box or TV with a built-in decoder to view a digital satellite signal. You will also need to get a satellite dish installed outside your house to receive the signal, but both of these will be provided as part of your subscription package or as a one-off payment if you’re getting freesat, which is similar to Freeview but offers many more channels.
Sky's digital satellite signal can be received by 98 per cent of the country, but in some cases installation may not be possible. This could be because the line of site to the satellite is hidden, because you live in a high-rise block where installation is too difficult, or because you live in a conservation area or a listed building where installation is prohibited.
Again, a huge number of channels and services are available, and costs vary depending on the package you go for. And as with cable, you can save by bundling your digital service with other services you already use.
This relatively new technology is a fast-maturing service that allows customers to watch television over their internet connection. This fourth platform uses a digital subscriber line (DSL) based on the existing telephone network to deliver digital services. As the technology supporting this service develops and expands, services are growing and customers can watch and download programmes from broadcaster’s websites, from specific channel websites and some ISPs are also including it in their portfolios - BT launched its BT Vision digital TV service this year which uses BT Total Broadband connections to feed digital TV to people’s homes, and Tiscali TV (www.Tiscali.co.uk) also delivers its service via a broadband connection.
No, a normal TV licence is all that’s needed to watch digital TV. You don’t need to make any changes or inform TV Licensing that you’ve switched.
Help scheme
While there are no plans to subsidise set-top boxes for those who can’t afford them, the BBC is funding a help scheme for elderly and disabled people.
Everyone over 75 is eligible, as well as those with a significant disability. The scheme will provide equipment to convert one television set, help with installation and will provide follow-up support.
This help will be free for the poorest eligible households, for example, those on Income Support, Job Seeker’s Allowance or Pension Credit. But there will be a fee of £40 for other households.
Consumers eligible for help will be sent more information before their area goes digital.
See the useful links for more information on this scheme or click here for more information on the different Providers Available.
