The Digital Switchover Help Scheme is designed to provide practical help for those people who we expect to have the most difficulty in making the switch to digital TV.
Some 7 million homes are expected to qualify for help, although not all will choose to take it up. Those who are eligible will be sent more details direct by the Government well before their area switches to digital. Details of the Help Scheme are set out below in a Scheme Agreement concluded by DCMS and the BBC.
The Scheme will be funded through the TV Licence fee and estimated costs are around £603 million. The BBC is responsible for delivering the Scheme although day to day operation will be contracted out. DSHS Ltd (a BBC subsidiary) will ensure that the contractor delivers the scheme as set out in the Scheme Agreement.
The BBC expects to award the contract to deliver the UK-wide scheme in early 2008.
The scope of the Help Scheme is based on Government research that indicates that the eligible groups are the least likely to have digital TV and the most likely to struggle with adopting it. The Digital Switchover (Disclosure of Information) Act enables the Help Scheme to identify people who are eligible and write to them directly inviting them to apply for help.
For more information on the Help Scheme visit the Additional Information web page.
