Digital switchover date revealed

The Winter Hill transmitter's analogue signals will be switched off next year

People in the north west of England have just over 12 months to prepare for the switchover to digital television.

From 4 November 2009, the process of turning off analogue signals from the Winter Hill transmitter will begin.

BBC2 will be the first channel affected, followed by the other channels at the beginning of December.

The switchover will mean those without digital-ready televisions will have to buy a new set or invest in a digibox to convert their existing televisions.

The Winter Hill transmitter covers Merseyside, Greater Manchester, Lancashire, Cheshire and north Staffordshire.

The digital TV switchover is part of a nationwide government policy.

Digital TV uses less broadcast space which means that after switchover, there will be more room for new services such as wireless broadband, local TV and High Definition Television (HDTV).