Digital Switchover Technical Trial
Llansteffan & Ferryside, West Wales

Wednesday 30 March 2005

The purpose of the Trial has been to gauge the technical issues for broadcasters, multiplex operators and consumers associated with the switch from analogue to digital television transmissions. The trial is a partnership between the Government, broadcasters and digital multiplex operators.

The Ferryside transmitter was chosen for technical reasons. It serves a compact, well defined local area covering the village of Llansteffan and part of the village of Ferryside, Camarthenshire, West Wales.

The digital transmissions were switched on at the end of November 2004. Following a period of three months using the digital services and equipment, the households in the trial were asked whether they wished to retain the digital services and equipment or to revert to the analogue services only. Over 85% of households responded of whom 98% indicated that they wished to retain the digital services.

The trial subsidised the provision of digital equipment to households, to convert or replace thier existing TVs and VCRs to become digitally ready. Householders installed this equipment themselves to simulate the reality of digital switchover as realistically as possible. About 20% of the community, including some elderly and disabled people, were given some assistance with this installation. In general households adapted to the new equipment readily. Elderly people were particularly positive.

This trial has provided a better understanding of technical and consumer issues related to digital switchover, but was never intended as a blueprint for national rollout.

The trial has highlighted issues relating to connecting and using digital equipment, the poor condition of some aerials and cabling, as well as some broadcasting issues. The trial will feed this back to the manufacturers and retailers, as well as into the future planning of digital switchover across the UK.

Responses from the triallists indicated that they valued the greater choice of services and the improved quality of pictures and sound that digital television brings.

A full report on the trial will be published in the summer.

Background

The Government wants all UK households to benefit from the digital future. Digital TV delivers many advantages – more services including interactive services, better quality sound and true widescreen pictures. Digital television is already available to almost the entire UK via satellite, and to 50% of the country by cable. Only 73% of households can today access all the available digital services through an aerial. Switching off the a nalogue terrestrial transmissions will allow nationwide coverage. Ofcom has indicated that switchover could begin in 2008 and be completed by 31 December 2012.

The Government, through the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and the Department for Trade and Industry, have overall responsibility for switchover, and is working closely with broadcasters and industry.

The Government will confirm the switchover timetable later this year when the remaining issues are resolved and the interests of consumers, especially the most vulnerable, are well protected.

For more information:

About the Trial

• Department for Culture Media and Sport, Press Office
  ph: 020 7211 6267 or 07919 693 320

• Department for Trade and Industry, Press Office
  ph: 020 72156403

About Digital Switchover:

• Intellect, Press Office Ph: 0207331 2000 (www.intellectuk.org)
• Digital Television Group, Press Office : 0208 891 1830 (www.dtg.org.uk)

Welsh Trial Fact Sheet PDF (50kb)