Your monthly briefing from digitaluk in the North West

August 2009

the latest news about digital television switchover

LOCAL KIDS HELP LAUNCH 100 DAYS COUNTDOWN

Digital UK was joined by schoolchildren from Bolton to help launch the 100 Days

to Switchover campaign. The youngsters, sporting specially designed pink ‘November 4’ t-shirts and assisted by Digit Al, arrived at Winter Hill on a

blustery July morning under the shadow of the 1,000ft TV mast where they

helped unfurl a huge banner with the November 4 switchover date printed in

huge letters. ITV Granada and BBC North West were also there along with BBC Radios Manchester and Lancashire as well as the Bolton News and Manchester Evening News.

And in the run up to the 100 Days, Digit Al and friends toured local football and

rugby league grounds to spread the switchover message. Stadiums visited

included Manchester United, Everton, Burnley, Tranmere Rovers and Warrington

Wolves.

Digital UK’s Bill Haworth with the Everton mascot, Chang, and Digit Al

NEW ROADSHOW DATES

New dates have been added to Digital UK’s regional roadshow tour – where the public have their opportunity to ask questions about switchover and find out

everything and anything to do with digital TV. The new dates are below and the

venues are a mixture of brand new locations and return visits to those areas where demand has been overwhelming. All the roadshows run from 9 am to 5

pm – exact locations will be posted nearer the time.

16 October Newcastle Under Lyme 17 October Market Drayton

19 October West Kirby

23 October Skelmersdale 24 October Bolton

29 October Chapel en le Frith 31 October Darwen

FREEVIEW LAUNCHES REMEMBER TO RETUNE CAMPAIGN

Freeview is reminding viewers to retune their equipment regularly to ensure

they continue to get the best from the service. The ‘Remember to Retune’

campaign comes ahead of a planned upgrade to the platform on 30 September,

2009. Freeview viewers will need to retune their digital boxes, digital TVs and

recorders on or after this date to carry on receiving all of the channels available

in their area, including Five, ITV4 and BBC Radio stations. The upgrade will increase the availability of Five and prepare the way for the launch of HD

services. More information is available from Freeview.

TOP AWARD FOR CENTURY

Century Healthcare Ltd has become the first non-housing organisation to achieve

Digital UK’s Homes Set For Digital accreditation. The Lytham St Annes-based healthcare provider has eight care homes in the Granada region.

RETAILERS READY FOR SWITCHOVER

The retail team is continuing its training programme with staff at many major stores achieving Digital Adviser accreditation. In July, the team visited 438 stores, trained 908 staff and made five regional presentations. In addition, 252

retail staff became digital advisers and 18 new stores signed up to the scheme.

And Sainsburys now have digital sponsors in their Granada region stores with seven having passed the adviser level.

BORDER REGION FIRST TO COMPLETE DIGITAL SWITCHOVER

The Border TV region has become the first to complete the switchover to digital television. History was made on the 22 July as the last analogue signals were switched off at the Caldbeck transmitter group. Following switchover, the

availability of Freeview digital TV channels in the area has increased from 51 per cent to 98 per cent of households.

Switchover began in the region in 2007 with the town of Whitehaven, west

Cumbria. This was followed by the UK’s first full-scale switch in the Scottish

Borders in November 2008.

NATIONWIDE HUNT UNEARTHS UK’S OLDEST WORKING TV

A 73-year-old television has won a nationwide search to find the country’s oldest working set. The Marconiphone TV, built in 1936, was discovered in north

London, and has now been brought bang up to date with the addition of a digital

box. The set was located as part of a competition launched by Digital UK in

conjunction with Iain Logie Baird, Curator of Television at the National Media Museum in Bradford and grandson of TV inventor, John Logie Baird.

WE’RE HERE TO HELP

If your organisation needs support for an event you are planning, Digital UK can

provide leaflets and training as well as display material. We can also supply articles and features for your newsletters. Contact us:

YOUR GRANADA REGIONAL MANAGER

Your Digital UK manager for the

Granada TV region is Jo Waters

Contact Jo on

jo.waters@digitaluk.co.uk or phone 07949 770 409

The Granada TV Region will begin the switch to digital TV on 4

November 2009 and the process

will conclude on 2 December

digital diary

August and September Roadshows continue throughout Granada region

Wednesday 12 August Ann Winterton MP to visit Granada regional roadshow in Sandbach

Friday 14 August Preston City Council’s ‘Tea and Chat’ day with support from Digital UK and the

Switchover Help Scheme. Between 11 am and 3 pm on the Flag Market

Monday 17 August

Digital Switchover phone-in on BBC Radio Merseyside’s Roger Philips Show at 12 noon

7 September

Community Information Day, Ashton and Golborne

Digital UK is the not-for-profit organisation leading the UK’s switch to digital

television. To find out more visit www.digitaluk.co.uk

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for the content of external sites to which this email provides links. Switchover News may contain factual

reports on opinion, comment or research relating to digital switchover which does not necessarily reflect Digital

UK’s own position.

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