Digital TV Switchover - Downloads




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Communal aerials have been fitted to blocks of flats across the country in attempts to negate the apparent need for individual satellite dishes.
The case against individual satellite dishes is that they are unsightly and that their installation damages the structure of the building when they are installed, may damage it further if they become dislodged after installation and are frequently left in place after an occupant has left. Even where aestetics are taken into account by the person commissioning the installation it can prove to be virtually impossible to get the installers to follow instructions as to exact positioning.
In response, primarily to these concerns, it has been made necessary to apply for planning permission before having a satellite dish or other aerial installed. Information on this can be gained by visiting the Government's Planning Portal.

Tenants, including leaseholders, were generally charged for the privilege of making use of these analogue communal aerials but there have been wide variations. In Bexley we have heard that leaseholders were charged for a service which failed to work for 27 years whilst in haringey a leaseholder was told that as a leaseholder he was not allowed to use the service.

The British Government owned international rights for the use of the radio wavelengths used for the broadcasting of analogue radio and television and realised that if digital signals were used in future that they would then be able to license the use of these wavelengths to the so called 3G providers. 3G providers being the cell phone companies.
Initially this sale was expected to raise £1bn for Government, but according to an article on the BBC News website by 2000 it was predicted that it would give a windfall of £22.47bn. An article in the Guardian speakes of "the frenzied bazaar of spring 2000 in which mobile phone companies paid insane amounts for the bit of spectrum allocated for 3G services."
Multiple sources confirm a final figure of £22.5bn, yes that is £22,500,000,000 which dwarfs the cost of upgrading the aerial systems to blocks of social housing. To enable you to put this into context realise that the shortfall in housing expenditure that Government estimated would have to be made up in order that everyone has a "Decent Home" was £19 billion.

The switchover begun with Whitehaven in Cumbria going digital in 2007 October and it will proceed around the country between up until 2012. London is programmed for 2012. The programme for all areas can be seen on the "digital uk" website

Meanwhile many people already use cable services that they have contracted for as individuals and which typically offer a choice of analogue or digital TV, internet broadband and telephone lines which you might think would make the entire switchover a matter of academic interest to them only.

However tenants, including leaseholders, are generally finding that where they are in a block that they are being faced with the installation of a new communal system whether they need it or not and whether they want it or not.

Issues that are being raised include:-
Fair trading - surely under EU and UK law tenants have a right to choose for themselves who should provide them with a digital TV signal.
Cost - These vary from £20 to £700 for the installation and then there will be ongoing payments thereafter. Questions are being asked as to what profit markup contractors should be charging.
The service provided - will the new services offered provide the channels that subscribers require. It has often been alleged in the past that a major concern was that the analogue service would include signals for those with minority languages and this could still be relevant but what if a subscriber regularly watches "National Geographical Wild" or "Sci-fi Channel" will they find that they can no longer get these services?
Then there is the installation itself where we have heard of services being provided in an unsightly manner sometimes infringing listed building legislation, sometimes leaving the old system in place. We have also heard of installations being made at the rear of a building where the existing system is at the front ........... where their televisions are.

Leaseholders in all parts of the country are being hit with bills for the replacement of communal aerial with new equipment. What has been your experience?

"Digital television transition" - Wikipedia entry

digital uk
Digital UK is owned by the UK’s public service broadcasters (BBC, ITV, Channel 4, five, S4C and Teletext), and multiplex operators SDN and National Grid Wireless.
It is an independent, non-profit organisation that maintains it provides impartial information on what people need to do to prepare for the move to digital, and when they need to do it.
The company also works with digital TV platform operators, equipment manufacturers, installers, retailers, rental companies and consumer groups to coordinate the technical rollout of digital television across the UK.
Digital UK was set up at the request of the Government. working closely with the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) and the Department of Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform (BERR), as well as the regulator Ofcom.
digital uk - advice specifically concerning council housing


"Digital television" - Department for Business Enterprise & Regulatory Reform