Ilfracombe advice clinic ahead of digital TV switchover

A special advice clinic about the switchover to digital television in North Devon has been organised for later this month. People with questions or concerns will be able to attend the Ilfracombe Centre on Monday, June 15 between 9.30am and 12.30pm.

A special advice clinic about the switchover to digital television in North Devon has been organised for later this month. People with questions or concerns will be able to attend the Ilfracombe Centre on Monday, June 15 between 9.30am and 12.30pm. There are just three weeks to go until the first stage of switchover for the Huntshaw Cross transmitter group, serving North Devon. Analogue services will be switched off in two stages. On Wednesday, July 1, BBC Two will cease broadcasting in analogue and the first group of Freeview digital channels will become available from relay transmitters. Four weeks later on Wednesday, July 29, the remaining analogue channels will be permanently switched off and replaced with additional digital services. Viewers with digital TVs or those using Freeview, Top Up or BT Vision boxes will need to retune their equipment at both stages of switchover. Switchover will make Freeview available from all relay transmitters in North Devon - serving 30,000 households for the first time. At the two stages of switchover there will be four advice points - in Ilfracombe, Great Torrington, Barnstaple and South Molton where people can drop in for face-to-face help. There will also be a roadshow on the High Street, Barnstaple, on Wednesday, July 1, Thursday, July 2 and Wednesday, July 29. Bill Taylor, South West Regional Manager for Digital UK, said: "Historically, North Devon has been a difficult landscape for television broadcasting. However, when the power of the digital television signals from Huntshaw Cross is increased very significantly at switchover, many households will receive better picture quality and sound, as well as a much wider choice in channels." Anyone unable to attend the clinic or roadshows can get advice from Digital UK on 08456 50 50 50 or at digitaluk.co.uk.