Five million viewers face early switch to digital television

[Mr T.]

Five million viewers face early switch to digital television
By David Derbyshire, Consumer Affairs Editor
(Filed: 10/02/2005)

More than five million people will be forced to switch to digital television within four years under new proposals published yesterday by the regulator Ofcom.

In a regional roll-out, analogue transmitters will be switched off in the ITV's HTV Wales, West Country and Border regions in 2008.

Other parts of Britain will follow, with the last conventional transmitter due to be closed down in 2012.

Digital TV signals currently reach fewer than three quarters of British homes. Because full-power digital broadcasts interfere with analogue reception, a significant increase in coverage will not be possible until analogue has shut down.

Each region is expected to take six months to convert, giving people time to sign up to cable or satellite or buy a Freeview digital box. Ofcom's plan has been submitted to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and the Department of Trade and Industry.

Consumer groups said that the timetable would force millions of people to switch to digital against their will or lose all television services.

Around 60 per cent of the population has digital TV. However, some industry analysts believe that the market alone will only manage to persuade another 20 per cent of people to sign up.

Under the Ofcom plan Granada, HTV West, Grampian and Scottish TV regions will switch to digital in 2009; Central, Yorkshire and Anglia will turn off analogue in 2010; and Meridian, Carlton/LWT, Tyne Tees and UTV will convert in 2011.

The Channel Islands will switch in 2012.

A spokesman for Ofcom said: "The Government will confirm the timetable for switchover once all of the remaining issues are resolved and the interests of consumers, especially the most vulnerable, are well protected."

A spokesman for the Department for Media, Culture and Sport said: "It is important that we work through all issues before we make a decision on the timetable."

But the consumer group Which? said that Ofcom's timetable would force some consumers to switch to digital against their will.

Allan Williams, Which? senior policy adviser, said: "The Government must keep its promises and should not switch off analogue TV unless the digital TV option is available and affordable to all."

Digital terrestrial television, available through a Freeview box, offers BBC3, ITV2, BBC News 24 and CBBC plus a host of pay TV stations in addition to the five main channels.

Ofcom

[wilbo]

As this seems like an apt thread: I'm currently looking around at getting a freeview/PVR (Personal Video Recorder) combo. After doing a bit of research (on DigitalSpy)..

There are several players out there at the moment (I am excluding HDD players with a DVD writer):

These are:
Thomson DHD4000 - twin tuner (record two different channels at the same time), 40gb drive, top rated, ugly as hell
Fusion FVRT100/150 - twin tuner, 40/80 gb drive, second rated, better looking
Humax PVR-8000T - only a single tuner (only record one channel), 40/80gb drive, best looking, only one tuner though..

HDD's are upgradeable if you know how - loads of how to links around..

These are the best deals at the moment:
Thomson DHD4000: unbeatable - £159+p&p, QED same price.
Fusion FVRT100/150: unbeatable - £170/£200
Humax PVR-8000T: QED - £138

So. If you're in the hunt, this may be of some assistance. As I'm in the hunt, if you know anything (new models coming out, better deals etc) post here.

If this makes you say "Huh", then as you were, move on, nothing to see here

[turbanator]

Originally Posted by wilbo

As this seems like an apt thread: I'm currently looking around at getting a freeview/PVR (Personal Video Recorder) combo. After doing a bit of research (on DigitalSpy)..

There are several players out there at the moment (I am excluding HDD players with a DVD writer):

These are:
Thomson DHD4000 - twin tuner (record two different channels at the same time), 40gb drive, top rated, ugly as hell
Fusion FVRT100/150 - twin tuner, 40/80 gb drive, second rated, better looking
Humax PVR-8000T - only a single tuner (only record one channel), 40/80gb drive, best looking, only one tuner though..

HDD's are upgradeable if you know how - loads of how to links around..

These are the best deals at the moment:
Thomson DHD4000: unbeatable - £159+p&p, QED same price.
Fusion FVRT100/150: unbeatable - £170/£200
Humax PVR-8000T: QED - £138

So. If you're in the hunt, this may be of some assistance. As I'm in the hunt, if you know anything (new models coming out, better deals etc) post here.

If this makes you say "Huh", then as you were, move on, nothing to see here

Dunno how it comapares, but Richer sounds have a Panasonic (or it may be Pioneer) model for £199, 80gig, Sd and PCMCIA slot. It does have a DVD writer tho'.

Edit: I don't know if it has a Freeview tuner which you seem to be saying that your suggestions do.

[wilbo]

Hmmmm.. (scratches chin), very interesting.. don't suppose you have the model number? don't mind doing the leg work, if its of interest..

[turbanator]

Originally Posted by wilbo

Hmmmm.. (scratches chin), very interesting.. don't suppose you have the model number? don't mind doing the leg work, if its of interest..

It's here: http://ws4.richersounds.com/showprod...A-DMRE65MR-SIL

I must learn how to post neat links,

r
Paul

[wilbo]

No HDD unfortunately..

ho hum

[aclivity]

Originally Posted by wilbo

As this seems like an apt thread: I'm currently looking around at getting a freeview/PVR (Personal Video Recorder) combo. After doing a bit of research (on DigitalSpy)..

There are several players out there at the moment (I am excluding HDD players with a DVD writer):

These are:
Thomson DHD4000 - twin tuner (record two different channels at the same time), 40gb drive, top rated, ugly as hell
Fusion FVRT100/150 - twin tuner, 40/80 gb drive, second rated, better looking
Humax PVR-8000T - only a single tuner (only record one channel), 40/80gb drive, best looking, only one tuner though..

HDD's are upgradeable if you know how - loads of how to links around..

These are the best deals at the moment:
Thomson DHD4000: unbeatable - £159+p&p, QED same price.
Fusion FVRT100/150: unbeatable - £170/£200
Humax PVR-8000T: QED - £138

So. If you're in the hunt, this may be of some assistance. As I'm in the hunt, if you know anything (new models coming out, better deals etc) post here.

If this makes you say "Huh", then as you were, move on, nothing to see here

are you in a cable area? Telewest are bringing out a PVR later this year with 3 tuners / decoders and a big HD. I guess NTL will follow soon afterwards as well. Add VoD service on top of that and it makes Freeview look a little less attractive?

[Mal Bridgeman]

I recently "acquired" a Hush Technologies ATX Media PVR which I have upgraded to digital. It's got a couple of bugs...mainly instability....(it is windows afterall) but for a complete Home Entertainment system that is truely silent it can't be beaten...IMHO, of course...and I have tried a few. Check them out at http://www.hushtechnologies.net/start.html

Rgrds
Mal

[turbanator]

Originally Posted by wilbo

No HDD unfortunately..

ho hum

Then I must have picked the wrong one.
The one in the shop window for £199 did have an 80gb HDD, I know for sure as my mate bought one.
If we don't get it sorted I'll look Saturday in the shop.

[wilbo]

Originally Posted by Mal Bridgeman

I recently "acquired" a Hush Technologies ATX Media PVR which I have upgraded to digital. It's got a couple of bugs...mainly instability....(it is windows afterall) but for a complete Home Entertainment system that is truely silent it can't be beaten...IMHO, of course...and I have tried a few. Check them out at http://www.hushtechnologies.net/start.html

Rgrds
Mal

hey - I like the cut of its jib..