Digital switchover confuses a third of the UK

A third of the UK is confused by the switchover, says the NAO

One third of the UK does not understand how they must prepare for the digital switchover, according to a report from the National Audit Office (NAO).

The transition from analogue TV broadcasting officially began last year in Whitehaven, Cumbria. About 85 per cent of homes have already changed their equipment, but another 26 million sets still need to be changed.

The target for completing the switchover is the end of 2012, with £603m from television license fees set aside for a national help scheme. Use of such support was lower than expected in Whitehaven, and if the rest of the county follows suit, then up to £250m could be left unspent.

National awareness of the switchover process has now reached 89 per cent, but understanding of the issue is still low among certain ethnic minorities and non-English speaking groups, according to the NAO.

The spectrum freed up by the changeover will be auctioned by Ofcom in 2009. The liberated bandwidth could be used for a variety of purposes, from wireless broadband to mobile TV.