This statement is issued in conjunction with the Minister for Industry and the Regions, my right hon. Friend the Member for Barking (Margaret Hodge).
In September 2005, the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport announced that the UK would switch over to fully digital TV broadcasting between 2008 and 2012. This will bring enormous benefits to all viewers, the broadcasting industries, the creative industries and the UK economy.
Today Digital UK, the independent body leading digital switchover, announces the detailed switchover dates for the Wales, West Country and Granada TV regions.
The timetable for these regions follows below, together with the timetable for the Border TV region that was announced in July 2006. These are the calendar quarters during which each main transmitter (and the many associated relay stations that carry its signal) will cease broadcasting analogue television, and begin transmitting a boosted digital signal. This will make digital TV through an aerial available to virtually all homes in each region.
Maps showing the location of transmitters in the Border, West Country, Wales and Granada TV region have been placed in the Library.
Border
Timing Main transmitter to switch (with associated relays) Q4 2008 Selkirk, serving Scottish Borders Q2 2009 Caldbeck, serving Cumbria, Dumfries & Galloway and the Isle of Man
Note: the Cumbrian town of Whitehaven and its surrounding area will lead out switchover in October 2007.
West Country
Timing Main transmitter to switch (with associated relays) Q2 2009 Beacon Hill, serving south Devon Stockland Hill, serving south-west Somerset, parts of west Dorset and south-east Devon, including Exeter Q3 2009 Huntshaw Cross, serving north Devon Redruth, serving west Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly Caradon Hill, serving much of Cornwall and Devon, including Plymouth
Wales
Timing Main transmitter to switch (with associated relays) Q3 2009 Preseli, serving south-west Wales Carmel, serving south Wales Q4 2009 Llandonna, serving north-west Wales, including Anglesey Moel-Y-Parc, serving north-east Wales Q1 2010 Blaenplwyf, serving west and central Wales Long Mountain, serving east-central Wales Wenvoe, serving south-east Wales, including Cardiff
Granada
Timing Main transmitter to switch (with associated relays) Q4 2009 The entire Granada region will switch to digital in this quarter, when the Winter Hill transmitter and its associated relays—serving Lancashire, Merseyside, Greater Manchester and Cheshire, are converted.
Further information on switchover can be found at www.digitaluk.co.uk and www.digitaltelevision.gov.uk