Speaking at the Royal Television Society in Cambridge, Jowell said the analogue signal would be switched off region by region from 2008 and if people did not buy into digital TV, through Freeview, Freesat, cable or satellite, then they would not be able to watch television.
The only allowances are for the over-75s, the blind and the disabled, who will receive a free upgrade for one television set paid out of the BBC licence fee. Others on benefits will be able to upgrade at a reduced rate.
Jowell said that the analogue switch-off clash with the 2012 Olympics would not be an issue.
"I can assure you that I did not slog for two years to bring the games here just to see Londoners reduced to huddling round the wireless to find out who won the hundred metres. I am completely confident that our timetable is a sensible one which will ensure that digital services are delivered with no disruption to the viewing public during the Games themselves," Jowell said.
So far, digital TV is now in 15.7m or 63% of households, according to Ofcom's estimate for the end of June, with Freeview the fastest-growing platform.
A further 9.2m still do not have access to digital TV. At least half of these will have to pay for digital TV through set-top boxes like Freeview, which cost up to £50 and a further £150 if they need to upgrade their aerial, or Sky, which costs between £15 and £42 a month. The minimum cost for turning digital is estimated at £250.
Although, Jowell anticipates that the economy stands to make between £1.1bn and £2.2bn by opening up new commercial revenue streams such as interactivity.
"When a new technology comes along, governments have two choices. And only two. They can follow it, trying to make retrospective sense of how society is changing as a result. Or they can be ahead of the curve, shaping the future and ensuring that the fruits of technology are evenly spread. We have chosen the latter course," she said.
The switchover process will be conducted by ITV regions, with the Border region first in 2008 and Ulster last in 2012. Two Welsh villages, Ferryside and Llansteffan in Carmarthenshire, have already moved to a digital-only signal after a pilot project earlier this year.
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