Digital television switchover will make Freeview television channels available across Scotland and viewers will be able to receive BBC One, BBC Two, STV, C4, Five plus a range of digital channels and services free via an aerial. The channels available will depend on which transmitter you receive your TV signal from.
Currently, more than 40 channels are available to viewers served by main transmitters such as Black Hill which serves Glasgow, central Scotland and parts of Edinburgh. After switchover, viewers who get their TV signal from a local relay transmitter such as Millburn Muir, will be able to receive around 15 Freeview channels for the first time. These will include all of the main TV channels available before switchover, plus Channel Five and some additional services from the BBC, ITV and Channel 4. A combination of commercial and technical constraints make it very unlikely that additional channels will be available from relay transmitters like Millburn Muir in the foreseeable future. An Ofcom Factsheet, which can be downloaded below, outlines that it is only the public service channels which are required to provide coverage to nearly everyone.
Switchover will therefore ensure that everyone will receive the public service channels on Freeview after switchover. Digital UK's role is to inform viewers about switchover and ensure that residents of West Dunbartonshire are aware of their switchover date and what their options are for going digital.
As part of an information campaign, Digital UK is holding information events across West Dunbartonshire next week - the dates/times of the events are as follows:
• 28 September 2010: Dumbarton Burgh Hall, Church Street, Dumbarton, G82 1QL, 10am – noon.
• 28 September 2010: Clydebank Town Hall, Dumbarton Road, Clydebank, G81 1UE, 2pm – 4pm.
• 29 September 2010: Duntocher Hall, New Street, Clydebank, G81 6DF, 10am – noon.
• 29 September 2010: Alexandria Community Education Centre, Main Street, Alexandria, G83 0NU, 2pm – 4pm.
• 30 September 2010: Napier Hall, 312 Dumbarton Road, Old Kilpatrick, G60 5LW, 3pm – 5pm.
