OK everyone… at ease!
The digital TV switchover is finally complete, with the last part of the UK (Northern Ireland) having pulled the plug on analogue telly last night (23rd October 2012).
At FrequencyCast, we’ve been following the digital switchover since 2007 (The Whitehaven switch got a mention way back in Show 17). It’s been a journey, with lots of pleasure (more channels) and pain (new hardware, re-scans and poor signal). We’ve also seen the loss of two friends… Ceefax, and Videoplus.
The FrequencyCast mailbox and podline bucket have also been kept very busy with digital switchover questions, which could make for a more quiet feedback section in the next few months – at least until the FM radio switchover starts.
Happy bunnies?
So, the 70 or so years of analogue telly have come to an end, as has a five year switchover that’s estimated to have cost over £4 billion. Freeview and Sky are king, with Virgin, BT Vision, Freesat and the new kid on the block YouView making up the rest of the digital TV landscape.
The key question then… how does it feel to be part of a fully digital Britain (telly-wise). Has the switchover been a godsend, or a nightmare? Are you mourning the loss of Ceefax? And what can we expect to feature in the FrequencyCast mailbox now that the switchover’s complete and everyone has found their way through the digital TV maze? If you’re so motivated… add a comment below.
Anyway… to all of listeners, and to all those we’ve been proud to help with digital TV advice… the switch is complete. It’s been a ride, and we’re pleased to have been there right the way through the seemingly never-ending painfully-slow switchover right the way from Whitehaven (Cumbria) to Whitehead (Near Belfast)