News story

17th March 2005

MP Challenges Government over plan to Switch off TV Signals

Northavon MP Steve Webb has this week (Tuesday 15th) led a debate at Westminster on the plan to switch off the traditional "analogue" television signals in the West of England by 2009 as part of the drive to encourage take-up of digital television. Under the plans, analogue TV signals will be switched off in different regions of the UK over the period 2008-2012. Once the switch-off has occurred, existing televisions will no longer work unless they are supplemented with a set-top box, and adjustments may be needed to video recorders and aerials.

The MP raised the debate because of concerns over the position of elderly pensioners and other vulnerable people, who may not be able to afford the costs of buying new equipment or of having their aerial upgraded. He also challenged the Government over the position of people in certain parts of South Gloucestershire, such as parts of Thornbury and Charfield, who cannot currently get digital television reception. Under the plans, they will be expected to buy digital equipment in the anticipation that when the analogue signal is switched off, the digital signal will be boosted which should overcome the existing lack of signal. Steve Webb went on to suggest that vulnerable households should be helped to meet the costs of digital switchover by using the proceeds from the sale of the spectrum that will be freed up when analogue broadcasts end.

Several other MPs joined in the debate which was responded to by broadcasting minister Richard Caborn MP. The Minister said that the Government was keen to promote digital television as this would be of benefit to the economy as a whole. He recognised the problems faced by vulnerable groups and said that some special measures would be put in place to help them, but would not specify what those measures would be.

Commenting after the debate, Steve Webb said:

"Although these changes will not happen for several years, we need to be reassured that people will not be forced to pay large sums of money simply to be able to go on watching the existing main TV channels. For many older people in particular, television is an important part of their life, and it would be totally unacceptable if they were excluded because they could not afford a new TV aerial and new digital equipment. The Minister's reply did not suggest that the Government yet have a clear plan to tackle this problem, but they should develop one as a matter of urgency".

Click here to read the text of Steve Webb's debate on analogue TV switch-off