NEW FIGURES SHOW THAT MORE NEEDS TO BE DONE TO GET THE BORDERS READY FOR SWITCHOVER

5.24.20pm BST (GMT +0100) Mon 24th Sep 2007

Borders MP Michael Moore has given figures to Digital UK, the organisation responsible for digital switchover, which show that more needs to be done to ensure the Borders is ready for switchover in 2008.

Mr Moore carried out a constituency-wide survey of more than 3,000 people in August. The replies received indicate that 34 per cent of Borderers have not yet converted any of their televisions, VCRs or DVD players to digital. This figure is higher than that reported by Digital UK in their recently-published annual report. According to Digital UK, only 29 per cent of Borderers have not begun the conversion process.

In addition, Mr Moore found that only 26 per cent of people have converted all their household equipment, whereas Digital UK have reported a substantially higher figure of 45 per cent. Although nearly all of the survey respondents were aware of switchover, two thirds did not believe that Digital UK had given them enough information.

Michael Moore has stressed to Digital UK that all those living in the Borders - the region that will be first to switch from analogue to digital - need to be made aware of what they need to do to prepare for switchover.

He said:

"The high rates of awareness of switchover among people in the Borders is encouraging, and Digital UK are to be congratulated on this. However, there is clearly still work to be done so that Borderers are ready when switchover occurs.

"If people have not converted their equipment, they will not be able to watch television. It is therefore vital that Digital UK works to improve conversion rates over the next few months."

Additionally, Mr Moore believes that people need to be made more aware of the fact that not everyone in the Borders will be able to receive the full Freeview service once switchover has occurred. Only half of the Freeview service will be carried on relay transmitters. This is despite the fact that switchover is meant to rectify the current situation in which many in the Borders are unable to receive Freeview.

Michael Moore plans to continue petitioning Ofcom and parliament to ensure that those in the Borders receive the same channels as the rest of UK. Petition forms can be found in local shops and Post Offices or from Michael Moore's parliamentary office on 01896 663 650.