How much will it cost to Go Digital?

 

Analogue TV is slowly being phased out in the UK, and by 2012, we will all be getting our TV digitally. But how much will it cost to "go digital"? Here is some useful information.

 

It does depend on what TV services you're looking to have after the digital switchover, and you have two choices:

 

Subscription TV:

You pay a monthly subscription to get lots of TV channels - Your choices here are:

• Sky Digital (via satellite),
• Virgin Media (Cable TV),
• Tiscali TV (via a phone line)
• Top Up TV (via a TV aerial)

 

Free TV:

Here are your choices for getting free-to-view digital TV:

• Freeview (via an aerial)
• Sky's Freesat (via a satellite dish)
• Freesat (via a satellite dish)

 

The cheapest option

 

For those looking to Go Digital for the lowest price, the answer is probably Freeview.

 

Assuming your house has a decent TV aerial, by the time your TV region goes fully digital, your local transmitter should have been upgraded and will be able to provide digital TV to your existing TV aerial.

 

Freeview is subscription-free, and all you need to pay is the one-off cost to get a set-top box. These typically cost around £25 on the High Street from stores such as Dixons and Comet

 

 

Assuming your TV set has a SCART socket, get a set-top box, plug it in to your TV set and your TV aerial, and you should be able to get digital TV. You do need to be in a coverage area, and have an adequate TV aerial.

 

Other things to check

 

As well as getting your main TV ready for digital, you need to make sure that your video recorder, and any other TVs in the house can get digital TV. See our checklist to see if you're ready

 

The expense

 

The Government has a scheme in place to help the elderly, disabled or visually-impaired to make the digital switch. We have information on this here

 

Other links:

• Video recorders - How they are affected by the digital switchover
• TV in other rooms - Help on getting digital TV in other parts of the house
• Digital TV accessibility - Help for visually-impaired, hard-of-hearing or elderly users

 

Answer unclear? Let us know!