More homes to switch to digital in 2009

Over five million homes will switch from analogue to digital television next year, the organisation behind the move said.

Digital UK, which is leading the switch from analogue to digital television, said the first large-scale switch over will start on 6 November with 52,000 homes in the Scottish Borders.

A further five million UK households across the Border, West Country, Wales and Granada TV regions, will also have analogue services replaced with digital terrestrial TV in 2009.

Latest research indicates steadily growing public awareness of the switchover. In the three months to June, Digital UK found that nine in 10 adults questioned had heard about switchover.

The research also found that nearly half had a detailed understanding of switchover and a third knew the year when their region would switch.

David Scott, chief executive of Digital UK, said: "After years of planning, we are now just a month away from the start of this landmark event in UK broadcasting.

"Forty years on from the introduction of colour, we are taking another giant step forward by ensuring the benefits of digital television are enjoyed by the whole country."

Some areas have already made the switch to digital television with Whitehaven in Cumbria, moving to digital television last November as part of a pilot scheme.

More than 65 separate switchovers will take place between now and the end of 2012, while currently a quarter of homes are outside Freeview coverage.