Digital UK, the body established by the government to deliver the digital switchover, said the analogue BBC Two spectrum was switched off at 2.37am on October 17 in Whitehaven and replaced with a group of five BBC digital terrestrial channels. On November 14, all of the remaining analogue channels will be switched off, leaving space for 20 Freeview channels.
Nine out of 10 households in Whitehaven had digital TV the week before the switchover, according to research conducted by GfK/NOP, whereas 75% had it on all their sets. Ford Ennals, chief executive of Digital UK, said: "Our priority today and in the coming weeks will be to remind late converters of the final deadline on November 14 and making sure plenty of help is available."
The digital switchover help scheme, established to provide help to people over 75 or with a disability, has so far received more than 2,000 requests for help with equipment and installation assistance for digital switchover.
Since Whitehaven was named as the test area for the digital switchover last year it has been bombarded with marketing including roadshows, posters, radio campaigns, direct mail, in-store activity and even ministerial visits.
Region by region, the analogue signal will be switched off between 2008 and 2012 and Digital UK has a £200m budget to inform the public and make sure no one is left behind.
Ricky Tomlinson, who played 'Royle Family' couch potato Jim Royle, was recruited by Virgin Media to front a campaign to boost awareness of the switchover. The ad, which is hosted on Virgin Media's website, involves Tomlinson explaining the benefits of the switchover, the impact it will have on analogue users and the variety of services available from providers on the market.
Tomlinson said: "To be honest, I was baffled by the whole idea of the digital switchover, but when I realised everything kicks off in October I thought I'd better get my act in gear. The online video explains in a fun way the different options available, giving handy tips and advice to help everyone get their head around it."
The campaign is aimed at consumers who are unsure of the ramifications of the switchover. According to research conducted by Virgin Media, one in 10 people have never heard of the digital switchover, two thirds said they were not prepared for the transition from analogue to digital and 15% have refused to replace their analogue TV set with a digital TV.