DIGITAL TV SWITCHOVER

                                       Television in Kent and Medway is going digital!

     

                                               

                 The digital TV switchover is starting in Kent from May 30th 2012. 

                                                           Analogue TV signals will be turned off and Freeview services boosted to reach all areas. After switchover,     

                                                           virtually all homes will be able to receive digital TV free via an aerial, including those served by local relay

                                                           transmitters.

                                                           When you switch depends on which transmitter your TV gets its signal from.

   

                                      To find out when you switch and what your digital options are, visit www.digitaluk.co.uk or call   

                                      Digital UK on 08456 50 50 50.

                                                           What do you need to do?

                                                           If you have Freeview, Top Up TV or BT Vision, you will need to retune your digital TV or box

                            at switchover or you will lose channels. Switchover is a two-stage process and you need to

                            retune at both stages.

                            If you have a satellite or cable service on all your sets, you will not need to retune as these

                            are not affected by switchover.

                            If you have 5 channels or fewer (i.e. analogue TV) on any of your sets, you will need to

                            convert them to digital.

                            If you’re 75 and over, or eligible disabled, call the Switchover Help Scheme - they can

                            provide everything you need to keep watching your TV.

                            How Action with Communities in Rural Kent can help

                            We can provide speakers for your meetings to explain the steps and when to take them.

                            For more information contact Kim Fletcher at digital@ruralkent.org.uk  or 01303 813790.

                            If you would like to be a local champion, supporting your local community, we can give you

                            the information you need, so please contact us

 

                            The Switchover Help Scheme is run by the BBC under an agreement with the

                            Government

       If you are eligible for the Help Scheme, they will write to you to offer you practical 

       help to convert one of your TV sets to digital.

                            

                            For more information ring 0800 40 85 900 for free or e-mail info@helpscheme.co.uk

 

                 You can also get more information at www.helpscheme.co.uk

                

      

     If you would like some text for your newsletter, please use this page.

 

Volunteers wanted!

 

Support our outreach work in Kent and Medway’s villages and towns

 

Why do we need volunteers?

How we receive our television signal is changing. In most of Kent and Medway we receive our terrestrial television signals via one of 4 main transmitters at Dover, Tunbridge Wells, Bluebell Hill and Heathfield.  The analogue signals from these transmitters will be switching over from the 1st of May 2012.  Some communities in North Kent and Medway receive their signals via the London Crystal Palace transmitter.  The analogue signals from this transmitter will be switching over to digital from the 4th of April 2012.

The BBC’s “Switchover Help Scheme” has been well-publicised but there will still be many people who do not understand what Switchover is about and these are likely to be people who need help from their community.

Action with Communities in Rural Kent is supporting the local roll-out of the Switchover Help Scheme. We need to visit every parish and town in Kent and Medway to spread this message and ensure no-one gets missed.

We need local volunteers to help with our programme to ensure that no-one misses out on the help that’s available to assist with making the necessary changes.  If you choose to volunteer with us, you will use your local connections, knowledge and networks to speak to those people in a community who are likely to know those people who are most at risk of not switching.

As a volunteer you will:

• be given a number of parishes and towns to visit, depending on the time you can offer us
• identify and talk to key people in each community, who are likely to be in a position to recognise those in the community who will need support.  These people will be asked to spread the message in turn and it’s through these community connections and your support that we will identify those who may require additional help.

 

Action with Communities in Rural Kent will:

• provide you with the training and materials needed to carry out your role
• track progress and ask you to report on your activity on a regular basis
• provide opportunities for volunteers to come together and share experiences
• pay out of pocket expenses for attending training and conducting the outreach work. This includes travel by car, cycle or public transport.

 

If you would like to chat further about this opportunity, or if you would like to volunteer, please contact Kathy Bugden on 01303 813790 or email kathy.bugden@ruralkent.org.uk by Monday 5th of December 2011.