Facing television's new frontier

About 52,000 homes served by the Selkirk transmitter and its relays will make the switch to digital this week

By Giancarlo Rinaldi
South of Scotland reporter, BBC Scotland news website

You might have expected the UK television revolution to begin in London, Edinburgh or Cardiff.

Instead it is getting under way in small rural towns like Melrose, Selkirk and Newtown St Boswells.

The Scottish Borders will become the first full region in the UK to move from analogue to digital television signals on Thursday.

It follows in the footsteps of Whitehaven, over the border in Cumbria, which made the change last year.

THE DIFFERENT WAYS TO GET DIGITAL TV IN THE BORDERS Convert your existing television with a digital set-top box Get a satellite TV system installed Get a new television with digital built in

About 52,000 households served by the Selkirk transmitter and its relays will make the switch.

The digital debate in south east Scotland has been a straightforward one to say the least.

It has been dominated by a simple question - how many channels will we get?

Recent figures showed that the Border TV area would have the lowest percentage of homes in the UK with access to the full array of programmes.

It is due to the number of homes in the area served by relay transmitters.

Digital UK - which is overseeing the change - stresses all viewers will have more channels than they do at present.

However, it has prompted complaints that the area is being used as a guinea pig and the victim of a "two-tier" service.

Unnecessary equipment

Also of concern has been the state of preparedness for the change - despite a concerted publicity campaign.

Consumer Focus Scotland - which has been monitoring the run-up to the switch - said some people had bought new equipment they did not need.

It said many people had not received the right advice at the right time.

While the process will be straightforward for most people, we know that some viewers may need a bit of extra help John Askew Digital UK

However, Digital UK says that the process has gone well.

Regional manager John Askew said: "Scottish Borders is well prepared for switchover and many viewers are looking forward to getting digital TV for the first time.

"While the process will be straightforward for most people, we know that some viewers may need a bit of extra help.

"We will be working with all our partner organisations to offer support for those who need it throughout the switchover period."

The switchover itself will take place in two stages.

The first starts shortly after midnight on 6 November when analogue BBC Two will be switched off and replaced with the BBC's digital channels.

Stage two takes place a fortnight later on 20 November when the remaining analogue channels will be replaced in digital format.

The "pioneers" in the Scottish Borders are hoping it will all go without a hitch.