Social landlords 'not ready' for digital TV
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Eighty-six per cent of social landlords are unprepared for the switchover to digital television, according to a new survey.
The poll of more than 400 landlords found only 14 per cent were fully ready for switchover. Seventy-four per cent said they were partially ready but 12 per cent said they were not ready at all.
Digital switchover, which will see the analogue signal turned off across the UK, will affect 4.6 million households in the next year. The Selkirk transmitter in the Scottish borders has already had its analogue signal turned off for good.
Jane Ostler, director of housing from Digital UK, the non-profit organisation leading the switchover process, said housing providers have an important role to play in ensuring the success of the switchover.
She said the organisation encouraged ‘landlords and tenants everywhere to ensure they are ready well ahead of analogue TV signals being switched off in their region’.
Pascal Wharton, head of Sky Communal Services, said he had been surprised that the survey, carried out by Sky, revealed that just 14 per cent of landlords were fully prepared:
‘Flats are usually dependent on a communal TV system and it looks like some residents may be in danger of being faced with a blank screen unless adequate provision is made.’
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Readers' comments (3)
Nick | 23/03/2009 11:14 am
Jeremy Kyle's viewing figures are going to plummet.
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Junior | 23/03/2009 2:31 pm
I know are Housing Association done nothing in East London I did write to them before Christmas and sent a email to the Chair of the Sheltering Homes System before alot of people only need a New Aireal and lastest HD TV when I made enquiries no only TV and Aireal but you got to have a box sex top like Virgin or Sky if anyone thinks I wrong I would be grateful to hear Thanks
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Jim Paton | 24/03/2009 8:07 am
In Hackney, the plan is to impose communal digital TV arials on EVERYONE in council blocks, at a permanent cost of £1.50 per flat per week, whether the block currently has an analogue communal arial or not (as many don't) or whether individual tenants have a TV or have any interest in watching broadcast TV at all. Younger people increasingly don't watch live broadcast TV, of course, though internet services such as i-player are a different matter. A digital arial (or a TV licence) is irrelevant for these. This looks very much like inertia selling of an over-priced service not required by many.
I'd be interested to hear from anyone with ideas about a legal challenge to this
which wouldn't deprive anyone of the service who does want it, and wouldn't increase the already excessive price for those people.
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