Viewers fuzzy on digital details

Consumers are still confused about what they will have to do about the switch to digital television, according to uSwitch.

A survey of 2,345 people in the UK carried out for the online comparison site by Yougov found that eight out of 10 adults in the UK are unprepared for the changeover from analogue to digital.

Nearly a quarter also believe they will have to buy a new television in order to receive digital TV signals.

Analogue TV signals will be turned off region by region, starting with the Border TV region in 2008 and ending with London and Northern Ireland in 2012.

uSwitch also found more than half (57 per cent) blame the Government for giving out insufficient or no information on how and why the switch was occurring, according to Steve Weller, head of communication services at uSwitch.

He said: "It is staggering considering [the government] announced their digital plan back in September 2005. They have had plenty of time to get the message out.

"Although the switch to digital will be good news for viewers, it is worrying to see that consumers are still baffled as to how and when to switch.

"The problems and confusion have clearly risen due to the fact that there are so many different times and years that the changeover will occur and the lack of communication has not helped ease such confusion. Consumers need to know, when and how to make the switchover work."

However, Jon Steel spokesman for DigitalUK, the company responsible for the switch told Computeractive,

"It is early days and we are aware that more education around the subject is needed, however, the situation varies around the country and this year alone we have seen awareness growing by 20 per cent.”

He also put down the lack of awareness down the fact that the company had " only actively communicated in regions due to switch soon".

"In these areas we have been delivering leaflets through people’s doors and holding a range of media events. From this we have seen a much better understanding," he said.