The Hidden Costs Of The Digital TV Switchover - Cable and Satellite TV Article

By:Chris Marshall

Price comparison website uSwitch says that millions of television sets and video recorders will be dumped following the Digital TV switch-over. Their bold statement comes on the back of a survey of 2,500 UK adults.

The survey estimates that eight-million machines, enough to fill 100 Olympic swimming pools, will be dumped after being rendered useless by the Digital TV switch-over. Most existing TVs will continue to work once the analogue TV signal is switched off, but viewers will have to either subscribe to BT Vision, Sky or Virgin Media, or buy a Freeview box to continue watching television following the Digital TV switch-over.

However, older television sets without scart inputs will be rendered useless and one in five video recorders will also be dumped as they will not work in the same way. This is because the Digital TV switch-over will mean that most people will be unable to record one programme whilst watching another. One way around this is to purchase a digital recorder, or to buy a seperate Freeview box for solely recording from. Either way, many people will not have expected this problem and extra cost, whilst it will cause extra confusion and worry for more people already dreading the Digital TV switchover.

uSwitch has predicted that of the 25 million television sets in the UK yet to go digital, nearly five million will be unable to receive a digital signal. The national cost of making all UK television sets work will be 2.2 billion pound, with 15% planning to throw away their old sets. When this is added to the one in five video recorders that will be thrown away, with the cost of replacing them with digital recorders estimated at 1.1 billion pounds, it proves that it will not only be costly for the customer but for the environment too.

Steve Weller, head of communication services at uSwitch, says: "Not only is the switch-over costing the nation significantly more than the low cost of a Freeview box, but the potential environmental impact of the discarded VCRs and TVs is shattering."

The uSwitch findings have prompted calls for better education with regards to the Digital TV switch-over. Although the government and relevent authorities claim to be providing enough information for people in how to ensure their television set will receive Digital TV signals following the switch-over, there are major concerns that the use of video recorders has been overlooked. Finally, to avoid damaging the environment collection and recycling schemes need to be set up so that people can safely dispose of their old analogue equipment.

Digg del.icio.us Blink Stumble Spurl Reddit Netscape Furl

Article keywords: digital TV, digital TV switch-over, freeview

Article Source: http://www.articles2k.com

Guide to TV discusses television options for residential customers, primarily for the UK market. Find out more about getting the best option for your home at Guide to TV.

Top Cable and Satellite TV Articles
1). The Direct TV Versus Dish Network Dilemma By : James Croydon Eenie meenie, miney mo - to which satellite TV service shall I go? Choosing between Direct TV (it is really called Directv) and the Dish Network is like deciding which political party is more corrupt than the other. It is all a matter of your perception of the programming and preference. Is one really better than the other? Not really. They even have similar marketing promotions like a free satellite TV system when you purchase their satellite TV receiver or buy a certain programming package.
2). The Future of Satellite TV By : Frank Johnson If you have Dish Network or thinking about getting it or another satellite TV service, it’s good to know what the future holds for satellite TV. So, here’s a glimpse into the future. This article may be considered science fiction, just like Arthur C. Clark once had a scientific vision about 3 satellites orbiting the earth in geostationary orbits to make global communications possible.
3). Direct To Internet Satellite TV – The Demise Of Our Youth By : Fame Ahmed It used to be, that the only way you could watch Satellite TV was by sitting your bottom on the couch, and watching it there. Now days though, you have direct to internet satellite TV. What does this mean? Simple as this, our youth have TV in front of them no matter where they go!
4). The Blessings of the Dish Network Remote By : dave4 Since my family has gotten access to Dish Network’s satellitetv offerings, it has completely changed the way the family views television. No longer do we have to endure whatever may be on television at any given time, instead, we can choose from among over 500 channels of music and satellitetv entertainment. Moreover, with a single Dishnetwork remote.
5). Satellite TV Programming Guide By : Brian Stevens With more than 256 channels to choose from, satellite TV programming offers far more TV listings and viewing options than cable or over-the-air TV. Satellite TV also gives you access to music channels, pay-per-view movies, sports packages, adult channels, and international programming. DISH Network Satellite TV Programming DISH Network programming packages start at $31.
6). Satellite TV Deals -- Who Has the Best ? By : Ryan Stevens Getting the best deal on satellite TV service can be confusing. There are only two satellite TV providers in the USA -- DISH Network and DIRECTV -- but each one has numerous independent dealers who offer a variety of different deals on satellite TV systems and service. So how do you know which satellite TV provider has the best satellite TV deal?.
7). Dish Network: Delivering the most high definition TV By : John Richardson Dish Network is the fast-growing digital satellite TV service in the country, serving more than 12 million subscribers and offering hundreds of channels of the best programming, from HBO to ESPN to Cinemax and much, much more. Last month, Dish Network reinforced its reputation as the leader in high definition (HD) television when it announced the addition of several new HD networks.
8). What To Know About Your Satellite TV Provider By : Mark Woodcock Today, television is all about choices. There are hundreds of channels from which a person can choose, many of them geared toward specific interests such as history, sports, news, golf, cooking, and the list goes on. In the infancy of TV, this was certainly not the case, where there was one, maybe two channels to watch. But now, with the cable TV and satellite provider vying for customers, the options are vast.
9). Free internet satellite TV - Change your world By : Anna J Free satellite TV means watching FTA (Free To Air) channels which are available on many satellites such as Telstar 5 (recently called Intelsat Americas 5). Currently there are many Free TV & Radio channels from all over the world that you can watch on this satellite. All you need is a dish, and a standard KU band LNB plus a good DVB receiver. Many sites are purely dedicated to FTA signals that you can get all that you need from and it’s long lasting.
10). TV Satellite Dish - Where to Get The Best By : Brian Stevens TV Satellite Dish A TV satellite Dish is used to capture the signal broadcast from a TV satellite. The dish redirects the signal to an LNB (low-noise block) converter where it's amplified and sent to a TV receiver. DISH Network Satellite Dish When you order DISH Network satellite TV service you get a 20" multi-TV satellite dish with advanced LNB for free.

New Cable and Satellite TV Articles
1). Maintaining a Good Satellite TV Signal By : dave4 Once you have become a subscriber to Dish Network, you won’t want anything to interrupt the fantastic Satellite TV programming that you will quickly grow accustomed to. Yet, there are several things that you will need to do in order to maintain a clear and adequate Satellite TV signal at all times. If you fail to conduct regular maintenance, you may.
2). Dish Network DVR’s and What You Should Know By : dave4 Technology is improving all the time. One of the most exciting recent developments is DVR (Digital Video Recording) service, available from Dish Network. DVR service is a tape-free recording system, allowing you to record your favorite shows right from your cable box onto an internal hard drive without using VCR tapes or blank DVDs. Dish Network’s DVR service also lets you instantly replay, rewind and play back, or pause live television broadcasts for up to 30 minutes.
3). Free Internet TV is an Internet television tuner program By : Anna J Providing TV program through internet is broadband television. It makes possible to view live terrestrial channels. Many websites offer now legal TV and video download services with millions of files are offered by many websites. Free Internet TV is an Internet television tuner program that allows you to view over 750 online TV stations from around the world.
4). Computer Satellite TV By : pjs1965 Computer Satellite TV is one of the newest and coolest things that have come out since cable TV in the seventies. I have just tried out an awesome software that brings me over 2000 channels from around the world. This is absolutely incredible. If you would like to check out a site that offers computer satellite tv at a one time only price. Computer satellite TV allows you to watch all of favorite sporting events.
5). PC Satellite TV By : pjs1965 PC Satellite TV is one of the newest and coolest things that have come out since cable TV in the seventies. I have just tried out an awesome software that brings me over 2000 channels from around the world. This is absolutely incredible. If you would like to check out a site that offers pc satellite tv at a one time only price. PC satellite TV allows you to watch all of favorite sporting events.
6). TV Satellite By : pjs1965 TV Satellite on PC is one of the newest and coolest things that have come out since cable TV in the seventies. I have just tried out an awesome software that brings me over 2000 channels from around the world. This is absolutely incredible. TV satellite on PC allows you to watch all of favorite sporting events. Now you’ll never miss a game no matter what.
7). Satellite TV Reviews -- DISH Network, DIRECTV, and Sky Angel. By : Brian Stevens Satellite TV Reviews There are currently three satellite TV companies in the U.S. -- DISH Network , DIRECTV, and Angel Star. DISH Network and DIRECTV broadcast a variety of television shows, sporting events, special events, and commercial-free music, while Angel Star broadcasts Christian oriented programs, music, and special events. Here are the reviews .
8). Free internet satellite TV - Change your world By : Anna J Free satellite TV means watching FTA (Free To Air) channels which are available on many satellites such as Telstar 5 (recently called Intelsat Americas 5). Currently there are many Free TV & Radio channels from all over the world that you can watch on this satellite. All you need is a dish, and a standard KU band LNB plus a good DVB receiver. Many sites are purely dedicated to FTA signals that you can get all that you need from and it’s long lasting.
9). Dish Network VS Directv By : monice There is a battle raging these days and that means that those in the world that wish to receive the most channels for the lowest prices are on the winning end of the whole deal. In the main battle, which is Dish Network VS Directv, you have a good many options on both sides of the field. There is so much to choose from that you can readily make the best deal between the two of them and maybe pit them against one another to have a rip roaring good time without having to spend a dime for quite a while.
10). Best Satellite TV Offer -- DIRECTV or DISH Network? By : Brian Stevens Best Satellite TV Offer Due to the fierce competition between DISH Network and DIRECTV, both providers are promoting satellite TV offers that include free equipment, free installation, and free HD and DVR receivers in order to get your business. In addition they're also offering cheap introductory programming rates. Here's a rundown on what DISH Network and DIRECTV have to offer .