Digital switchover begins this morning (From This is Hampshire)

TV sets need to be retuned

11:35am Wednesday 8th February 2012 in News By Helen Morton

THE BIGGEST change to television in a generation began today, with BB2 analogue channel turned off in much of Basingstoke.

Households already watching Freeview will need to retune their TVs and boxes in order to regain some BBC services, which are missing this morning.

The switchover began in the early hours when analogue BBC Two was permanently turned off at the Hannington transmitter group.

The process will be completed on February 22, when the remaining analogue channels- BBC One, ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5 will be switched off.

From today, thousands of viewers in digital blackspots who have retuned their sets will be able to access BBC Freeview channels for the first time, while picture quality will improve for many existing viewers.

Further Freeview channels from ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5 will be available from local transmitters for the first time from February 22 onwards.

Digital UK is advising people not to leave it until the last minute to make the switch to digital.

Bill Taylor, Regional Manager for Digital UK, the body leading the switchover, said this morning: “This is great news for Basingstoke, as many people are receiving new channels for the first time.

“Those viewers who haven’t switched to digital should prepare for February 22, when the last analogue channels will be permanently switched off. Our advice is: get ready now – don’t leave it until the last minute.”

A Switchover Help Scheme is still open for applications from eligible older and disabled people to get help converting television and a call centre is available to those already signed up 0800 40 85 900. To find out if you are eligible visit www.helpscheme.co.uk or call 0800 40 85 900.

For help retuning your set visit www.digitaluk.co.uk/meridianevents or advice line 08456 505050 Digital UK will be holding a switchover advice point today and tomorrow at the Basingstoke Discovery Centre, Festival Place.

-To retune your Freeview, Top-Up TV or BT Vision equipment, make sure your Freeview TV or box is on and in digital mode and press ‘menu’ on your remote control.

Select ‘set up’ or ‘installation’. If you see picture icons, select the tool box, satellite dish or spanner and if you are prompted for a code, try 0000 or 1234.

Select the full re-tune option, which is sometimes called ‘first time installation’, ‘factory reset’, ‘default settings’ or ‘shipping conditions’. Do not select ‘channel update’ or ‘add channels’.

If you are asked to delete all your channels press ‘OK’. Channels will automatically be installed.