Digital TV plans 'flawed'

Analogue TV could close in 2006

Government plans to switch off the analogue television signals within five to 10 years have been called "fatally flawed" by the Consumers' Association.

The organisation said many people avoid digital TV for the same reason that people choose it - the number of extra channels.

The association found 32% of viewers without digital TV said they would never get it, while 48% of the 1,918 people questioned said they would only want watch free-to-air channels once they switched to digital.

Although 26% of the population have digital TV now, most of those - 73% - have switched for extra channels, especially sport and films.

But 66% of people who haven't switched have not even considered getting digital TV.

The survey shows many are confused about whether or not they will have to pay to receive the five main terrestrial channels after analogue transmissions are switched off.

Consumers' Association spokesman Adam Scorer said: "The survey has found a resistance to digital TV that should compel the government to rethink its plans for delivering 'digital UK'.

"We believed it's time to end the analogue switch-off. The government needs a digital switch-over policy that allows consumers to switch to digital easily, affordably and because they want to."