Do you have a TV? - Hyde Housing Association

Do you have a TV?
Your guide to the digital TV switchover

What is the digital TV switchover?
By April 2012 the existing analogue TV signal
will be switched off and only digital TV signals
will be available. This is a Government scheme
and replaced the traditional analogue TV
signals ( BBC1, BBC2, ITV1, Channels 4 and
5) with digital services. Households that are
not served by a communal aerial will need
to check that their equipment is ready to
receive these digital signals; otherwise they
will no longer receive TV services once the
switchover is complete.
What channels do we get when
we switchover?
With digital TV, the five traditional channels
will remain available and be added to by more
channels. Almost all areas will get the fifteen
public service TV channels plus radio, with
most households in London receiving over 40
TV channels plus radio.
When will this happen?
During 2011, the Central, Anglia, and Yorkshire
TV regions switch to digital. The Meridian,
London, Tyne-Tees and Northern Ireland
TV regions will complete the switchover
during 2012. The switchover for Hyde Group
properties in Meridian and London will switch
between February and June. To find out when
your area is scheduled to switchover then
enter your postcode on the Digital UK website
at www.digitaluk.co.uk.
What does this mean for me?
Every TV you want to carry on watching, if it
is not already ready to receive digital services
( freeview, Freesat, Sky, or Virgin Media) will
have to be connected to a digital (set top) box,
or replaced with a TV with built in freeview.
If you want to watch one programme while
recording another, you will need a digital TV
recorder such as Sky+ or Virgin+.

If you live in a flat with a communal TV aerial
system, Hyde is responsible for ensuring that
you can continue to receive TV signals after
the switchover. Everyone in the block, both
tenants and leaseholders, will be required
to contribute to the cost of installing a new
system where one is needed. Most rooftop
and some set top aerials will continue to work
after switchover. As a rule of thumb, if you
are getting a good analogue picture now, it
is likely that you will get a good picture after
switchover. To check the condition of your
aerial, visit Teletext page 284 where a test
shows your aerial strength.
Do I need to get a new TV?
No, with very few exception, any TV can be
converted with a digital box. Digital boxes cost
between £20 - £150. However, if you decide to
buy a new TV, make sure it has the logo looks
like this:
If your TV doesn’t have these services built
in, you can buy a set top box to receive them.
There are no on-going costs to watch them.
Residents can get Sky through a subscription
service. Sky will supply the set top box. Hyde
is installing a second dish, so that residents
can also access some foreign language
services. The communal aerial system will give
all residents access to freesat+ and Sky+, if
they want it.
You will not be able to get Virgin Media TV
services through the communal aerial system.
If you want this digital TV service, you
should contact Virgin Media as it is available to
some residents in flats.
It is Hyde’s intention to take down individual
satellite dishes as the new systems are
installed. If one belongs to you, we will give
back to you or dispose of it with your consent.
Hyde are working with our residents to appoint
contractors who will carry out this work on
communal aerial systems.
which means it is designed to work after the
TV switchover as it has a digital box built in.
Will I need to switch my radio at
the same time?
No. This switchover relates to TV only.
However, you will be able to receive radio
channels directly through your TV and some
equipment will also provide audio description
for people with sight impairments.
What is Hyde doing?
As your landlord we have a responsibility to
ensure that where you receive your signal
through a communal system, we carry out
changes to make sure you can receive TV
signal after the switchover.
Residents have told us that Hyde should
go with the option to install as standard a 9
wire IRS ‘Integrated Reception System’. This
means that two satellite dishes, a UHF aeria,
and radio antenna will be installed on each
block of flats.
This will give everyone access to Freeview
and freesat, the non-subscription TV services.
Where can I find out more?
‘Digital UK’ is leading on the switchover. They
offer plenty of help and advice. For more
information call: 08456 50 50 50 or visit their
website: www.digitaluk.co.uk
Is there any help available?
The Switchover Help Scheme run by the BBC
helps eligible people convert one of their TV
sets to digital. Those who are eligible:
• Are aged 75 or over; or
• Get (or could get) Disability living allowance,
or Attendance or constant attendance
allowance, or Mobility supplement; or
• Are registered blind or partially sighted; or
• Have lived in a care home for six months
or more.
The Helps Scheme will ask eligible people to
pay £40 but is free for people who get pension
credit, income support or income based job
seeker’s allowance. Contact the Help Scheme
on 0800 4085 900 or visit their website:
www.helpscheme.co.uk

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The Hyde Group 30 Park Street London SE1 9EQ
Tel: 020 3207 2600 www.hyde-housing.co.uk