Digital UK
Encyclopedia
Digital UK is the body in charge of the digital switchover
of television in the United Kingdom.
Digital UK communicates switchover to the public, works with industry to build support for the switchover programme, and co-ordinates engineering work across the UK broadcast network. The company works closely with Ofcom
, the communications regulator, and the government Department for Culture, Media and Sport
. Digital UK itself comprises marketing, media relations, public affairs and technical departments.
The company was set up as a not-for-profit body at the request of the government and Ofcom, but it is independent from both. Its shareholders are the UK public-service broadcasters (BBC
, ITV
, Channel 4
and Channel 5) and transmission companies SDN and Arqiva. Most of Digital UK's budget is funded by the licence fee, and the company is formally a subsidiary
of the BBC.
Digital UK was formed on 13 April 2005 as SwitchCo, adopting its present name five months later. It is based on Percy Street in Fitzrovia
, London. The Chief Executive is David Scott and the chair is Barry Cox.
The company completed the first digital switchover in Whitehaven, Cumbria in 2007, and has since completed the process in Wales and Scotland. England will follow on 26 September 2012. Northern Ireland has not yet started but will finish on 24 October 2012. The organisation is on course to complete the project at least £53 million under budget.
Digital switchover will affect almost every home in the United Kingdom. All of the country's 60 million TV sets have to be able to receive a digital signal as the analogue terrestrial signal is turned off.
In May 2006, Digital UK began a seven-year campaign to inform consumers about switchover. With a budget of £200m, this is the country's biggest ever public information programme - including mailings to every household and an ongoing advertising campaign based on the robot character Digit Al.
Digital UK also provides information to consumers through a website and a telephone helpline (0845 6 50 50 50).
Before switchover began, around one quarter of the UK public could not receive Freeview, because the digital signal was broadcast at low power in order not to interfere with analogue television. By switching the analogue signal off it has become possible to increase Freeview coverage. When switchover is complete, 98.5% of UK homes will be able to receive the service.
Extending Freeview involves installing 9,417 transmitters on 1,073 masts across the country between 2008 and 2012. Digital UK is responsible for co-ordinating this work, which is being carried out region by region.
Freeview is only one way to receive digital television: the others are digital satellite (through Sky
, or free-to-air systems), cable (through Virgin Media
or WightCable
) and over a telephone line (through TalkTalk TV in London
). Digital UK was established as a "platform neutral" body, meaning that it does not promote any of these services above another.
The company promotes the 'digital tick' logo, a certification mark for the public that identifies TV equipment in stores that will work before, during and after digital switchover.
Digital switchover in the United Kingdom
Digital switchover is the name given to the process by which UK analogue broadcast television in an area is converted to digital television. It is sometimes referred to as "analogue switch off". For full details see UK Digital switchover....
of television in the United Kingdom.
Digital UK communicates switchover to the public, works with industry to build support for the switchover programme, and co-ordinates engineering work across the UK broadcast network. The company works closely with Ofcom
Ofcom
Ofcom is the government-approved regulatory authority for the broadcasting and telecommunications industries in the United Kingdom. Ofcom was initially established by the Office of Communications Act 2002. It received its full authority from the Communications Act 2003...
, the communications regulator, and the government Department for Culture, Media and Sport
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport is a department of the United Kingdom government, with responsibility for culture and sport in England, and some aspects of the media throughout the whole UK, such as broadcasting and internet....
. Digital UK itself comprises marketing, media relations, public affairs and technical departments.
The company was set up as a not-for-profit body at the request of the government and Ofcom, but it is independent from both. Its shareholders are the UK public-service broadcasters (BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
, ITV
ITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
, Channel 4
Channel 4
Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster which began working on 2 November 1982. Although largely commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station is now owned and operated by the Channel...
and Channel 5) and transmission companies SDN and Arqiva. Most of Digital UK's budget is funded by the licence fee, and the company is formally a subsidiary
Subsidiary
A subsidiary company, subsidiary, or daughter company is a company that is completely or partly owned and wholly controlled by another company that owns more than half of the subsidiary's stock. The subsidiary can be a company, corporation, or limited liability company. In some cases it is a...
of the BBC.
Digital UK was formed on 13 April 2005 as SwitchCo, adopting its present name five months later. It is based on Percy Street in Fitzrovia
Fitzrovia
Fitzrovia is a neighbourhood in central London, near London's West End lying partly in the London Borough of Camden and partly in the City of Westminster ; and situated between Marylebone and Bloomsbury and north of Soho. It is characterised by its mixed-use of residential, business, retail,...
, London. The Chief Executive is David Scott and the chair is Barry Cox.
The company completed the first digital switchover in Whitehaven, Cumbria in 2007, and has since completed the process in Wales and Scotland. England will follow on 26 September 2012. Northern Ireland has not yet started but will finish on 24 October 2012. The organisation is on course to complete the project at least £53 million under budget.
Communication
Digital UK is responsible for explaining switchover to the public, telling them when it will happen and what they need to do to prepare.Digital switchover will affect almost every home in the United Kingdom. All of the country's 60 million TV sets have to be able to receive a digital signal as the analogue terrestrial signal is turned off.
In May 2006, Digital UK began a seven-year campaign to inform consumers about switchover. With a budget of £200m, this is the country's biggest ever public information programme - including mailings to every household and an ongoing advertising campaign based on the robot character Digit Al.
Digital UK also provides information to consumers through a website and a telephone helpline (0845 6 50 50 50).
Transmitter work
One of the main reasons for switchover is to allow almost every home to receive a digital signal through their normal aerial - digital terrestrial television, usually known in the UK as Freeview.Before switchover began, around one quarter of the UK public could not receive Freeview, because the digital signal was broadcast at low power in order not to interfere with analogue television. By switching the analogue signal off it has become possible to increase Freeview coverage. When switchover is complete, 98.5% of UK homes will be able to receive the service.
Extending Freeview involves installing 9,417 transmitters on 1,073 masts across the country between 2008 and 2012. Digital UK is responsible for co-ordinating this work, which is being carried out region by region.
Freeview is only one way to receive digital television: the others are digital satellite (through Sky
Sky Digital (UK & Ireland)
Sky is the brand name for British Sky Broadcasting's digital satellite television and radio service, transmitted from SES Astra satellites located at 28.2° east and Eutelsat's Eurobird 1 satellite at 28.5°E. The service was originally launched as Sky Digital, distinguishing it from the original...
, or free-to-air systems), cable (through Virgin Media
Virgin Media
Virgin Media Inc. is a company which provides fixed and mobile telephone, television and broadband internet services to businesses and consumers in the United Kingdom...
or WightCable
WightCable
Wight Cable 2005 Ltd is the only provider of commercial and residential cable television services on the Isle of Wight. They also provide telephone and broadband internet services....
) and over a telephone line (through TalkTalk TV in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
). Digital UK was established as a "platform neutral" body, meaning that it does not promote any of these services above another.
Suppliers
Digital UK also works with electrical manufacturers and retailers, who together will supply the equipment necessary for all the UK's television households to watch digital.The company promotes the 'digital tick' logo, a certification mark for the public that identifies TV equipment in stores that will work before, during and after digital switchover.
The Switchover Help Scheme
Digital UK works alongside the BBC-run Switchover Help Scheme, which helps older and disabled people convert one of their sets to digital.See also
- Digital switchover dates in the United Kingdom
- Digital switchover
- Department for Business, Innovation and SkillsDepartment for Business, Innovation and SkillsThe Department for Business, Innovation and Skills is a ministerial department of the United Kingdom Government created on 5 June 2009 by the merger of the Department for Innovation, Universities and Skills and the Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform .-Ministers:The BIS...
- Department for Culture, Media and SportDepartment for Culture, Media and SportThe Department for Culture, Media and Sport is a department of the United Kingdom government, with responsibility for culture and sport in England, and some aspects of the media throughout the whole UK, such as broadcasting and internet....
- OfcomOfcomOfcom is the government-approved regulatory authority for the broadcasting and telecommunications industries in the United Kingdom. Ofcom was initially established by the Office of Communications Act 2002. It received its full authority from the Communications Act 2003...
External links
- Digital Switchover UK website
- Government Digital TV portal
- Digital TV Consumer test reports UK Government-funded website to support Digital Switchover