Majority leap to digital ahead of analogue TV shut down

With a little over a month to go before analogue television signals into Hawke's Bay get the chop, about 96 per cent of the populace has made the switch to digital reception.

"And 83 per cent can name the date, September 30, which is good news for the region," managing director of Freeview Sam Irvine said.

However, he said in terms of people being "fully" aware of what was involved and what it would mean when they made the switch, there were still "some gaps."

Freeview personnel had been actively getting the word out that the switchover to digital meant more channels - up to 17 television and four radio channels, as well as a better picture and with no monthly fees.

"But where knowledge drops off is around the cost of setting up multiple TVs in your home to continue to get free television.

"The required upgrade from free analogue to free digital TV, as with any technology upgrade, will always incur set-up costs."

Mr Irvine said the upgrade to digital TV was a choice thousands of Kiwi households needed to make as the Government prepared to switch off the old analogue television signal across the country, beginning with Hawke's Bay and the West Coast.

According to the latest Government figures, a third of all households that already have one digital TV still need to set up additional sets in their homes to be able to receive digital television.

The same figures show 64 per cent of Freeview households have already converted multiple TVs to digital.

"About 85 per cent of those households carried out the installation or set up themselves or with the help of friends or family, while the remainder used professional installers."

Mr Irvine said there were three fundamental facts about the costs which applied to every Freeview household in the country.

If you want to watch Freeview on multiple TVs, each of them will need to have Freeview built in, or for older TVs, a separate Freeview receiver. These can be purchased for as little as $79.

Some households with a line of sight to the closest TV transmitter can pick up Freeview/HD digital TV with indoor UHF aerials. If this is the case, you can simply plug one in to each Freeview/HD receiver and you're good to go.

If you are going to use your rooftop UHF aerial or satellite dish to watch Freeview on multiple TVs, you will need a signal splitter, which costs as little as $10 from your local electrical store. You will also need to run a cable from the UHF aerial or dish to each TV. Installers can usually do this from about $150.

"It's important to note that to view analogue TV currently you need a TV and an antenna. This is no different in the digital age.

"You just need a digital TV instead of an analogue one, or you can simply convert the signal to your existing TV with an external digital receiver.

"In many cases your current aerial will work and you'll find you now have perfect reception."