Digital switchover in Lancashire

The whole of the Granada region, covering more than 7m viewers, will have switched to digital by 2 December 2009.

Between now and 2012, analogue channels will be switched off region by region and replaced with free-to-air digital TV and radio services (Freeview).

Our region began the full switch to digital in November, when you'll have had to re-tune to continue receiving BBC Two.

Analogue radio service is unaffected.

Switchover will extend Freeview coverage to the whole of the UK and free up airwaves for new services such as ultra-fast wireless broadband and mobile television. Digital services are also available via broadband, cable and satellite.

So what does this mean to you?

Switchover means that virtually all homes in the region will be able to receive digital TV through an aerial. Anyone who has not switched to digital by December will no longer be able to receive television.

Viewers already watching Freeview will need to retune their digital television sets or digital boxes at each stage of the switchover process - 30 September, 4 November and 2 December 2009.

On Wednesday 4 November analogue BBC Two was permanently switched off in all areas and some Freeview digital channels, including BBC Two, became available for the first time to viewers served by relay transmitters.

On Wednesday 2 December the remaining analogue channels (BBC One, ITV1, Channel 4 and Five) will be permanently switched off. These services and a range of other Freeview TV, radio and text services become available to viewers served by relay transmitters.

At this stage, new and existing viewers with Freeview, BT Vision and Top Up TV will need to retune their TVs or digital boxes to pick up all the services available.

If you have cable or Sky, you don't need to do anything.

Who can help me with all this - I'm confused!?

Staff and volunteers from local volunteer organisations, including Age Concern, will be offering practical advice and support to people who may need extra help with switching to digital or have concerns about how switchover will affect them.

Local switchover teams, trained by Digital UK, will be happy to help people with a range of basic switchover-related issues, such as retuning, recording or how to install a Freeview box. The teams are running advice points across the region on 2 and 3 December.

The Lancashire dates and venues are as follows...

Blackburn

2 - 3 Dec: BBC Radio Lancashire, Darwen St, BB2 2EA 10am-5pm

Blackpool

2 Dec: St John's Business Centre, Church Street, FY1 1BP 12-6pm
3 Dec: St John's Business Centre, Church Street, FY1 1BP 11am-5pm

Burnley

2 - 3 Dec: Age Concern, 24 Keirby Walk, BB11 2DE 10am-5pm

Cleveleys

2 - 3 Dec: Cleveleys Methodist Church Hall, West Drive, FY5 2BL 10am-5pm

Clitheroe

2 - 3 Dec: The Civic Suite, 13 Church Street, BB7 2DD 12-6pm

Lancaster

2 - 3 Dec: Age Concern, 7/11 Chapel Street, LA1 1NZ 10am-5pm

Leyland

2 - 3 Dec: Civic Centre, West Paddock, PR25 1DH 11am-5pm

Lytham/St Annes

2 - 3 Dec: St Annes Tourist Office, St Annes Square, St Annes on Sea FY8 1LW 10am-4.30pm

Ormskirk

2 - 3 Dec: Age Concern Well Being Centre, Moorgate, L39 4RY 10am-5pm

Rawtenstall

2 - 3 Dec: Age Concern 16 Bury Road, BB4 6AA 10am-5pm

Anyone who may need a little extra support is invited to visit their nearest Advice Point and speak to one of the team.

If people are unable to visit a Switchover Advice Point, help is also available from the Digital UK Helpline on 0845 6 50 50 50 and at digitaluk.co.uk.

...and don't forget the BBC Digital Switchover Help Scheme

The Help Scheme is run by the BBC under an agreement with the Government, and we work closely with Digital UK. We offer practical help to older and disabled people to make it easy for them to switch to digital TV.

Eligible people can get one television set per household converted to digital. Every eligible person will be contacted by post directly and invited to take up the Help Scheme.

People are eligible if they are aged 75 years or more, or if they are registered blind or partially sighted. Also eligible are people who get (or could get) attendance or constant attendance allowance, mobility supplement, or disability living allowance, and people who have lived in a care home for six months or more.

For more details call 0800 408 7654 or visit the Switchover Help Scheme website.