National switch to digital television begins
 

Television history has been made with the start of the analogue switch-off in the UK.

A tiny corner of Wales is no longer able to receive television through a conventional aerial and has gone digital instead.

Around 460 homes in the villages of Ferryside and Llansteffan are now at the forefront of technology and can now only receive a digital TV signal.

German capital Berlin is the only other place in Europe to have achieved this.

The move is the first part of the Government's plan to switch off analogue TV completely and move over to digital by 2012.

There are 11 million homes to convert across the country and it can cost up to £300 per household to go digital.

British viewers face a combined bill of £3 billion to make the switch or lose out on television altogether.

Re: National switch to digital television begins
 

Once the analogue is switched off do we still be charged for TV livience or will it become part of the digi bill???

Re: National switch to digital television begins
 

Good point!!:confused:

Re: National switch to digital television begins
 

LOL trust me to get straight on to the money bit pmsl:) glad im not only one to be curious tho

Re: National switch to digital television begins
 

That is what we would all like to know!!
More robbing off us folk!

Re: National switch to digital television begins
 

This bit I don't understand. A freeview box is about £30-40. Do some housholds have 10 TV's ( £30 x 10 = £300 ).

Re: National switch to digital television begins
 

Yes you will still pay for your TV licence.

What do you mean by digi bill - Sky Digital is seperate altogether.
Most of us can get free digital TV now using a freeview box. Just buy it and plug it in. Some people may need a new aerial, my original aerial works fine.

How can more channels for no extra money be a rip off?

Re: National switch to digital television begins
 

Im sorry i think thats a joke i think tv should come under one bill the amount the bill is is dependant on how many channels u want but what about those whom haven't got digital ???? Just extra costs for crappy viewing to get an ariel n box or dish charged a fortune from those companies n BBc want their own slice as well!!!!!!!! RIP OFF Britain it is!!! hang on Roy i may be boarding a plane [oh i wish!**

Re: National switch to digital television begins
 

Get to the back of the queue! If any-ones going to carry his luggage it's going to be ME!

Re: National switch to digital television begins
 

PMSL!!!!!! hey im in the luggage hope im not heavy for ya :) .....shhhh just dont tell Roy LOL ;)

Re: National switch to digital television begins
 

If you pay just the licence you get analogue and digital terrestrial ( not satellite ) included. There are several digital channels that are free. You pay extra if you want more. This is what you are talking about I think except you pay the extra to a different provider.

Re: National switch to digital television begins
 

We are OK in Granada untill 2009 though so don't go getting on that plane just yet.

You can also get BBC, ITV,CH5 + a few others via a 'SKY' box without a subscription to BSkyB. YOu ring up and ask for a Free to Air card.

Ian

Re: National switch to digital television begins
 

You ring up and PAY for a Free To Air card

BBC channels and several others can be received on a Sky Digibox without a card in. Pull your card out and try it.

This does of course mean that we pay the licence fee that pays for the BBC and all of Europe and more can now receive BBC channels for nothing. We are a friendly country arn't we.

Re: National switch to digital television begins
 

I had never thought of that :mad: it beggars belief what they con us into.

I'm just thinking though :rolleyes: The European countries that are viewing these channels might have some means of paying the BBC too, do other countries not have a similar thing to TV licenes or the digital companies not pay a percentage to the BBC?

Re: National switch to digital television begins
 

We didn't pay for one for MIL. Just rang up and it came a few days later.

If you mean we pay the license fee then I'm afraid that is here to stay so there isn't really an option there

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Its a bit of a joke when we are payin for this n Europe isn't it???? I think caught be the gingangooes

Re: National switch to digital television begins
 

Its a bit of a joke when we are payin for this n Europe isn't it???? I think we're caught by the gingangooes quite a bit!!!

Re: National switch to digital television begins
 

Oh goodie i can book it for 2009 then pmsl

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Ahhhh n another point is ..... what about u having multiple tv sets in the house when the analogue goes off they wont work n then u'll have to have links n boxes for them too which will cost a bomb!!!!

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How long ago was that mate. They may have changed the rules. I paid £20 ish for one about 15 months ago. Things might have changed when the BBC stopped paying Sky to encrypt their channels. They now only pay to have their programmes show up on the Sky guide. Did you know you can get extra channels on a Sky box besides what Sky show you on the EPG?

No they pay nothing. Just stick up a dish and use a Digibox without card and get it for free, just like we can.

Re: National switch to digital television begins
 

Eh ??? but we pay licience fees so technically not for free does Europe pay for our channels if not they get it for free at the cost of us!!

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They do not pay for our channels. We pay for ours but they can get it for free.

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err irish but thats what i said lol thats just not fair!! why dont they charge less n charge europe as well!! bloody freeloaders lol

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Well, most of the stuff on the box is so seriously rubbish........they are welcome to it in the EU

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Yeah to them in Europe it is proably new and interesting, to us it is repeat after repeat................. the BBC are the worst on terrestrial for it and we have to pay for the priveledge. If I have to sit through another Only Fools and Horses or Last Of The Summer Wine :( don't get me wrong the programmes were good but how many times can you laugh at the same thig!

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Oh how I agree with that sentiment.
Is there no-one out there who can write a good sit com????
Those programmes were fine in their day but they are a bit like me now......'tired and elderly'

I really can't remember the last time I watched something on TV that I really enjoyed.

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Oh but they dont make em like they used to tho n cant come up with owt worth watching its that bad its all reality tv, tho i like watching a bit of ole Alf Garnet on uk gold that still makes me chuckle how so not PC that is pmsl