Digital Switchover Help Scheme

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The Digital Switchover Help Scheme is part of the digital television switchover process in the United Kingdom. Funded by an increase in the TV licence fee, and administered by the BBC on behalf of the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, it aims to ensure that up to 7 million households meeting its eligibility criteria will continue to be able to receive television broadcasts after analogue transmissions have been switched off.^[1]

1 The eligibility criteria
2 The cost
3 The benefits
4 The reality
5 Further information

[edit] The eligibility criteria

The scheme is open to all households in which (between eight months before and one month after analogue switch-off at the relevant transmitter) one or more members are at least 75 years old, OR receive a Disability Living Allowance or Attendance Allowance, OR are registered as blind or partially sighted.

[edit] The cost

If the eligible person (or the person's partner) also receives income-related benefits or pension credit, the scheme is free. All other recipients have to pay a flat fee of £40.

[edit] The benefits

In essence, whatever it takes to get an appropriate digital television service into the household, by the most cost-effective method. For most households this will be a set-top box for digital terrestrial TV; the models supplied have to meet certain core requirements beyond what is seen on standard digital boxes, most notably the provision of Audio description. The remote controls provided must also meet requirements for ease of use. The scheme also provides any help that is required to get the equipment running, including user training and, if necessary, replacement of the aerial system.

Householders who would prefer to replace an analogue TV set completely, with a digital TV, or want a box which includes a digital TV recording facility, can obtain these at discount prices. Householders who choose not to receive digital terrestrial TV can opt for a discount on the cost of a subscription-based TV service (satellite or cable)- or off the cost of a Freesat installation.

[edit] The reality

It has been reported that in the Whitehaven area, the first non-voluntary conversion from analogue to digital television, take-up of the help scheme has been surprisingly low.^[2] This may be partly due to the high percentage of homes already receiving satellite TV in the absence, before switchover, of any Freeview transmissions. Additionally, many householders who met the age criteria but had no special needs did not require the enhanced set-top box, or a replacement aerial (most of the population lives within a few kilometres of the transmitter) and therefore had no reason to pay the £40 flat fee.