Digit Al - Waste of time and money

[PiKe]

Being in the Border region we have just had phase 1 of the digital switch-over which means BBC 2 analogue is off the air to make room for the first Mux.

Out of curiosity I've been asking people if they're ready for digital and quite frankly, I'm shocked at the amount of people that aren't, the fact that it is a 2 phase switch-over confuses people further!

Where exactly has all the money and information gone to helping people get digital TV?

 

[yer_averagejoe]

we have an old lady across the street that comes over quivering and gripping her remote control pleading for help every couple of days because her tv wont turn on. she leaves it on stand by and she doesnt understand that the standby button won't bring it back on.. we have to go over there and press a number on the remote to turn it on.

I'm seriously thinking about moving out when the switch-over comes

 

[monkeyspank]

It's been announced loads IMO. If you watch any TV anyway, you will know about it and you have had plenty of opportunity to find out more.

 

[Van Hellseek]

Yep, my parents were talking about getting a new TV so they could get digital, when all they need is a set-top box. 'Digit Fail' more like.

 

[gt_junkie]

Where exactly has all the money and information gone to helping people get digital TV?

My mate at work wondered this too. Although he has sky so missed all of the messages that were only broadcast on border.

I personally thought they'd made it fairly obvious - although the annoying text that sat at the top of the screen for a few minutes at a time while something interesting was on was a tad annoying.

I must admit that a fair few people seem to have missed/ignored or simply not noticed these messages. Without stereotyping too much it seems that the older generations have been confused a little by it all.

gt

 

[bledd]

we have an old lady across the street that comes over quivering and gripping her remote control pleading for help every couple of days because her tv wont turn on. she leaves it on stand by and she doesnt understand that the standby button won't bring it back on.. we have to go over there and press a number on the remote to turn it on.

I'm seriously thinking about moving out when the switch-over comes

poor thing, buy her a new tv that works how she wants

good deed for the year tbh

 

[PiKe]

It's been announced loads IMO. If you watch any TV anyway, you will know about it and you have had plenty of opportunity to find out more.

I've been told there a banner that appears once a night, but it's probably at prime time when Coronation Street or EastEnders is on, and because I don't watch either, I've never seen this banner.

Adding a STB to an existing telly complicates things for some people as well, in some instances their TV Scart doesn't support switching so I then have to explain how to use the AV button !

 

[gt_junkie]

I've been told there a banner that appears once a night, but it's probably at prime time when Coronation Street or EastEnders is on, and because I don't watch either, I've never seen this banner.

Yep - you're right. Only one or two times a night. I do watch Eastenders occasionally so spot it quite regularly.

gt

 

[monkeyspank]

You've never seen any form of advert on one of the 5 (is it 5) terrestrial TV channels?
Do you watch them?

 

[Vulcan]

Well we first heard about this 2-3 years ago now, plenty of time to upgrade.

What's the actual purpose of the digital switch though?

 

[Dj_Jestar]

all the money went to the marketing companies for making the adverts telling us the switch over will be 2 phase and 'soon'.

 

[PiKe]

Well we first heard about this 2-3 years ago now, plenty of time to upgrade.

What's the actual purpose of the digital switch though?

Someone asked me this last night, "Why do we need digital?", I didn't really know the answer other than to say, more (mediocre) channels and a better picture.

 

[Amp34]

The south west is switching over shortly and there are signs up all over the place about the digital switchover, I bet there are still people who don't know about it though, as most people are about as observant as a fish...

 

[uber soldat]

Well we first heard about this 2-3 years ago now, plenty of time to upgrade.

What's the actual purpose of the digital switch though?

So the government can make money from selling off the bandwidth that all the old analogue channels used.

 

[yer_averagejoe]

What's the actual purpose of the digital switch though?

It turns your TV into a camera too so they can check if you're a terrorist.

 

[Amp34]

Someone asked me this last night, "Why do we need digital?", I didn't really know the answer other than to say, more (mediocre) channels and a better picture.

Hopefully a better picture (and HD freeview) but I bet most of the extra space will just go to extra **** channels that no one watches (as that will make more money).

I want to know if broadcasters will also increase the number of broadcasting towers, as there will be a lot of people who got analogue (just) but won't be able to get anything more than choppy, unwatchable digital...

 

[Duke]

There have been quite a few adverts and things about it. Our area changes next year, which my grand parents knew about, so got them a digibox the other week.

 

[krooton]

So the government can make money from selling off the bandwidth that all the old analogue channels used.

To whom and for what purpose?

 

[uber soldat]

To whom and for what purpose?

To phone companies and digital broadcasters so they can bring us even more "reality TV" BS channels.

 

[TheVoice]

Freeview has Virgin 1, Virgin 1 has Chuck, ergo Freeview is awesome.