What is Digital TV?

The ‘Digital' in Digital TV refers to the way in which the television signal - the information that your TV interprets as images and sounds - is transmitted from the transmitter to the receiver. In the past only analogue signals were available, then came digital TV. Some people are using digital TV already - millions, in fact - and are enjoying the considerable benefits that it offers. Benefits include:

Many additional TV channels for no extra cost. Digital TV is available at no cost to the viewer other than the standard TV license fee.
Subscription channels. There will also be subscription services that offer opportunities to view pay-per-view television.
Improved quality. No ghosting, no rolling picture, no interference.
New features. Improved information services like Teletext, plus other ‘red button' information will be available for some programmes.

The Switchover

Between 2008 and 2012 analogue signals in the UK will be switched off, leaving only a digital signal; this process is called the ‘digital switchover'. The demise of analogue signals and wholesale switch to digital means that if your equipment isn't currently set up correctly, you may have to do something about it very soon.

How does it work?

Digital signals are transmitted as a long (long, long, long) series of zeros and ones - it may be useful to think of these digits as representing a switch, with a value of one representing ‘on' and a zero ‘off'. The sequence of these digits determines the information that is being transmitted. Of course, you need a device at either end that understands the code that is transmitted, and this is the encoder and decoder. Older televisions do not ‘speak' the digital language, and they may need assistance in the form of a digital decoder (‘set-top box' or ‘freeview box') to be able to use it.

Analogue TV works well enough, why change it? How does digital TV improve what I'm watching?

Digital signals can be transmitted much more efficiently than analogue signals; not only can more information be sent in the same period of time, we can also make sure that the picture and audio received is of a much higher quality. Digital TV means elimination of interference, ghosting, rolling pictures and all other symptoms of an insufficient signal.

You're not going to receive anything markedly different, and if all you want to do is to watch the same channels that you watched before, then that's fine (but you'll be watching them with better quality picture, sound and additional information available at a finger-click). The ability of digital TV to carry and translate so much more information though, means that you'll also be able to receive many more channels; many additional channels are free of charge and you're absolutely entitled to watch these without paying a penny.

Will I lose any of the channels I'm used to seeing?

Absolutely not. This is a bona fide improvement. There is no government spin surrounding digital TV - it is better! You'll only be gaining once you switch.

Do I need expensive new equipment?

No expensive equipment is needed. In fact, many televisions and households are already digitally enabled; if you bought a TV recently then it is likely that you won't need any additional equipment at all (check for the digital ‘tick' indicating compatibility).

If you're watching TV on older equipment, then don't worry. A set-top box is all you need to convert your equipment to be digital TV compatible. These set-top boxes are inexpensive, and can be bought at most shops selling electronic goods; many internet stores have excellent deals and they'll deliver right to your house.

Final Word