To help with the digital switchover in our region later this year, advice is circulating about how certain groups of people can get extra assistance. TV is going digital in Granada from November 4th on BBC2, following by the rest of the channels in December.

The Switchover Help Scheme

The Switchover Help Scheme was set up by the Government and is run by the BBC. Its purpose is to make digital TV easy for older and disabled people by converting one of their televisions to digital in the run-up to digital TV switchover in their region.

The Switchover Help Scheme aims to reach out to all eligible people, and ensure that those who need our help get it, so that no-one eligible need be left behind without access to television after switchover.  People are eligible to receive help from the Help Scheme if they are

-         aged 75 or over

-         have lived (or are likely to live) in a care home for more than six months

-         get (or could get) Disability Living Allowance (DLA), Attendance Allowance, Constant Attendance Allowance or mobility supplement

-         registered blind or partially sighted

The Help Scheme will be contacting all eligible people in Granada from mid May onwards with an offer to help them make the switch to digital.