Region steps into digital TV era

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The deadline has passed for the Scottish Borders to become the first full region to step from analogue to digital television.

More than 50,000 households in south east Scotland were affected by the move at about midnight on Wednesday.

Digital UK - which is overseeing the change - said 97% of people in the area were ready for the switch.

However, MSP Jeremy Purvis said concerns remained about the number of channels made available to the region.

It is the first place in the UK where a full-scale switchover is taking place.

Scottish Borders residents have really responded to the information campaign and they're well prepared to lead the first, full-scale digital switchover Paul HughesDigital UK In the first part of the two-stage process, analogue BBC Two was set to be switched off at midnight and replaced with the BBC's digital channels.

The switchover meant all terrestrial services would be turned off in the early hours of Thursday morning but should be restored in most areas by 0600 GMT.

In some areas served by relay transmitters - smaller transmitters which take the signal into more remote places - services were due to be off air until noon.

A previous trial switchover was run in Whitehaven, Cumbria, on a smaller scale, involving about 25,000 households.

The second stage of the switchover, which will turn off all analogue channels, takes place in the Scottish Borders two weeks later, on 20 November.

Paul Hughes, Scotland national manager of Digital UK, hailed the switchover as "a massive programme that will transform Scotland's television service".

The two phase process will be completed on 20 November

He said: "Scottish Borders residents have really responded to the information campaign and they're well prepared to lead the first, full-scale digital switchover."

But Lib Dem MSP Jeremy Purvis, whose constituency includes Selkirk, raised fears the changes could create a "two-tier service" in the Borders.

He said: "Many of my constituents have contacted me pointing out that because they receive their television signal through a relay transmitter they will only be able to see 50% of the digital channels."

In the run-up to the changes across the country, a help scheme is being run by the BBC through an agreement with the government to help older and disabled people.

About 17,000 people in the area were sent an application pack to apply for help.

A spokeswoman for the scheme said about 11,500 had responded, many saying they did not need help.

Some 2,000 television viewers who responded have been helped with equipment installation or delivery.

'Fundamental problems'

The level of uptake was criticised by South of Scotland MSP Christine Grahame.

She said it showed there were "fundamental problems" with the scheme.

Ms Grahame claimed the government was more interested in the financial benefits to be gained from the switch rather than protecting the elderly and vulnerable.

However, spokeswoman for the scheme Sumera Bashir said it was not too late to receive help.

She said: "The message we want to give eligible people is that there really is no need to get left behind.

"Help is still available and we want to hear from anyone who still needs us."