Minister Rabbitte announces the nationwide delivery of the “going digital” information booklets

Minister for Communications, Energy & Natural Resources, Pat Rabbitte T.D. today announced that every home in the country will receive a Digital TV Switchover Information booklet within the next ten days as part of the government’s efforts to ensure that no one gets left behind when the analogue TV network in Ireland is switched off on Wednesday 24th October, 2012.

The information booklet is being distributed from today to remind some 200,000 households who still need to make the switch to digital TV of what they need to do to make the switch to digital TV and that the options are all available now. The guide will also be helpful to a further 250,000 households who already access digital TV – Saorview or Pay TV – for their main television, but who may have a set in another room which is relying on the analog TV signal.

Minister Rabbitte said, “The switching off of the analogue TV network is now just four months away, we are now commencing the final phase of our promotional campaign by delivering an information booklet to every home in the country. The booklet is an important element within our campaign and we hope that it will serve to prompt all those who have not yet taken the important steps to ensure they can continue to enjoy their TV when the analogue network is switched off in October to do so. Digital TV is available now in the form of Saorview or various pay TV services, so we are keen to encourage people not to wait until the last minute to make the switch.”

All those still using the old analogue TV network will have noticed a ‘bug’ on the bottom of their TV screen which will be a permanent reminder and countdown to analogue switchover date, October 24th. This ‘bug’ will remain on all analogue TV screens until October 24th or until those TV sets have been switched to the digital network.

According to Minister Rabbitte, “The use of the ‘bug’ on analogue TV screens is an important device which allows us into people’s home to remind them that they are currently watching TV on the old network and need to take action to ensure that they are not without a TV service when the analogue TV service gets switched off on Wednesday 24th October, 2012. We are optimistic that both the use of the ‘bug’ and the distribution of the booklets will encourage people to take the necessary steps to make the switch to the digital TV service.”

Guidance on the Digital Switchover is also available at http://www.goingdigital.ie/ and through LoCall 1890 940 980 (English language) and 1890 940 970 (Irish language).

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