Put simply, digital TV is a method of transmitting television pictures and sound in a digital format. The digital signal is compressed and uses less bandwidth than analogue television - so this means there is more space for extra channels to be allocated to digital TV.

Why do I need digital TV?

By the year 2012 all TV transmissions in the UK will be digital. All of the remaining analogue TV transmissions will be shut down and digital TV will take over. Digital switchover began in 2008 in the UK and each UK region has been allocated a year for their analogue TV to be switched off right up until 2012. Unless you get some sort of digital TV receiving equipment you will not be able to watch any TV when your region switches over. You can find out which regions are still to switch to digital TV on the Digital UK website.

The main benefits of digital TV are the much improved signal, picture quality and clearer sound. Other features include more channel choice, digital radio through your TV, interactive services and on-screen TV guides.

How do I get digital TV?

There are many different ways to get digital TV, but some options will depend on your location and the availability of the digital TV service.

Here are the main ways to get digital TV

Through your TV aerial - Digital Terrestrial TV (DTT)

If you have an existing TV aerial and you already receive a good analogue TV signal, then in theory you should be able to get a digital TV signal. However, some aerials may need replacing if they are in poor condition. The DTT service is provided by Freeview. To check if your area can receive Freeview digital TV, use the postcode checker on the Freeview website.

You would need a Freeview box to convert your TV to digital or you could buy an integrated digital TV with a Freeview digital TV tuner already built in.
You could also consider a Top-Up TV Anytime box. A Top Up TV Anytime digital TV box gives you access to all the Freeview digital TV channels and downloads extra on-demand digital TV content from the likes of Living and Comedy Central. Top Up TV Anytime is a subscription based digital TV service.

Via a satellite dish - Digital satellite TV

In the UK Freesat and Sky Digital offer digital satellite TV. Digital satellite TV comes from satellites high up in space covering the whole of the UK, so this option may be good if you can't get a good Freeview digital TV signal in your area.

Through cable - Digital cable TV

Virgin Media provides digital cable services in the UK. With Virgin Media digital cable TV your digital TV is delivered on high speed fibre optic cables. Greater on-demand digital TV applications and interactive services are available on digital cable TV. Unfortunately not everyone in the UK can get Virgin Media digital cable TV and it depends on whether you live in a Virgin Media cabled area.
On the Isle of Wight there is a cable service called Wight Cable which provide home phone, broadband and cable TV.

From a telephone line

You can also get digital TV over a telephone line by taking a BT Vision digital TV service, which is only available to BT Total Broadband customers.

Digital TV can be split into subscription and non subscription TV.

Subscription digital TV

* BT Vision
* Sky
* Top Up TV
* Virgin Media

Non subscription TV

* Freeview
* Freesat

I am disabled can I get extra help?

Yes, digital TV has special features like services for viewers with sight or hearing impairments.
These services include audio description and subtitles. Also there is the Switchover Help Scheme which provides help, support and equipment to viewers with special needs and the elderly.