Digital T.V.

[manealca]

Has the whole of Cumbria been converted to digital T.V. if not when is it due to happen.

[vehelpfulguy]

Nowhere has converted yet.

Whitehaven is the first to switch in October 2007 (just a few months way). More here

http://www.culture.gov.uk/Reference_library/Pr ess_notices/archive_2006/dcms105_06.htm

I guess this will be a sort of trial to see how it goes.

Then the rest follows between 2008 and 2012, see more here

http://www.culture.gov.uk/Reference_library/Pr ess_notices/archive_2006/dcms105_06.htm

These dates may change I guess if the switchover causes any problems.

[vehelpfulguy]

Sorry, my second link was wrong, this is it

http://www.digitaltelevision.gov.uk/dig_switch over/wtdigswitchover_home.html

[Buenchico]

There are different dates set for switching off the analogue transmitters in different parts of Cumbria. That suggests that the provision of terrestrial digital TV is moving at different speeds across the region.

The BBC 2 signal will disappear from the Whitehaven analogue transmitter on 17 October. The transmitter will completely shut down on 14 November. So it seems reasonable to assume that all homes which currently receive analogue signals from Whitehaven should already be able to receive digital.

However, the other analogue transmitters within the Border TV area aren't due to be switched off until the second half of 2008. That suggests that there may still be some work to be completed before the required target figure of 98.5% of homes are within reach of a digital signal.

In South Cumbria, within the Granada TV region, it's even less likely that the 98.5% figure will have been reached yet. Analogue transmitters aren't due to be turned off until the second half of 2009.

Confirmation that not all homes within Cumbria are currently able to receive Freeview appears to implicit in this quote from the BBC:
"Freeview - also known as Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) - is available in parts of Cumbria.

The transmitters in Cumbria are not currently able to transmit the digital signal on 100% power, as it would interfere with the existing analogue signal. However, following the switchover, they will be running on full power, thereby boosting the digital signal."
http://www.bbc.co.uk/cumbria/content/articles/ 2004/12/16/digital_tv_feature.shtml

Chris