UK completes digital TV switchover

More than seven decades of analogue television broadcasting in the UK came to an end today (October 24th 2012) as the final stages of the digital TV switchover were completed.

Olympic gold medallist Dame Mary Peters was tasked with putting the finishing touches on the process by deactivating the country's last analogue signals, which were being broadcast from the Divis transmitter just outside Belfast.

Since it began in 2007, the switchover has brought Freeview coverage to ten million households in 'reception blackspots' while clearing the way for the signal to be used for new services, including 4G super-fast mobile broadband technology.

Before the process began, Freeview TV was only available from 80 transmitter sites, but now these free-to-air digital channels are being transmitted from more than 1,100 sites serving over 26 million homes.

Prime Minister David Cameron described the switchover as the biggest single change to the broadcasting landscape for a generation.

"It has delivered more choice for millions of viewers and paved the way for exciting new services, securing our role as a global player in broadcasting and creative industries," he added.