Digital UK and Gateshead Harriers promote north-east switchover

Digital UK has joined forces with athletics club the Gateshead Harriers to urge viewers in the north-east to prepare for the end of analogue TV services.

Fewer than 100 days now remain until the switchover to all-digital TV gets underway in the Tyne Tees region on September 12th 2012.

The process, which will see Freeview coverage boosted to reach virtually every home in the area, will be completed a fortnight after that date, marking the end of the switchover in England.

Northern Ireland will be the final part of the UK to move from analogue to digital, with work in the country scheduled to start on October 10th.

Rebecca Liddell and Richard Kaufman, two hurdlers from the Harriers, met up with switchover mascot Digit Al at Gateshead Stadium on Monday (June 18th) to raise awareness of the impending switch.

Research indicates that more than nine in ten households have already upgraded to digital TV and remaining analogue homes are being urged to make preparations soon or face being left with a blank screen.

John Askew, Digital UK's north-east regional manager, said: "Most people have already made the switch to digital, but we know some people may leave it until the last minute."