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Over the last five years the Switchover Help Scheme has helped more than 1.3 million older and disabled people switch to digital television. It鈥檚 been a huge and rewarding undertaking, quite different from any other 主播大秀 activity, but one designed to make sure all viewers continued to get the TV services that mean so much to them. As switchover comes to an end, I would like to share some of the highlights with you.
Digital switchover has delivered many benefits to the UK. At last almost everyone can get the full range of public service channels, including digital services, through an aerial. This was only technically possible by switching off the traditional analogue services that had served so many people for so long. For some viewers, particularly among older and disabled people, change to this important part of their lives was a daunting prospect.
The first switchover happened in Whitehaven, Cumbria in 2007. The last took place in Northern Ireland in October 2012, and exactly a month later in November 2012, we welcomed our last customers.
Support from the Switchover Help Scheme took the shape of everything needed to switch one TV to digital 鈥� easy-to use equipment, professional installation and demonstration in their homes, and 12 months鈥� free aftercare so that they could call on someone if they were struggling.
People aged 75 or over and those who got certain disability benefits were offered the help. They were also eligible if they were registered blind or partially sighted, or they had been living in a care home for more than six months. Most people were asked to pay 拢40 for the help, but for eligible people who were also on income related benefits, it was free.
The Switchover Help Scheme was tasked with making sure 鈥渘o-one was left behind鈥� in the switch to digital. Under an agreement with the Government, and with the oversight of the 主播大秀 Trust and the 主播大秀, we set out to deliver a specially-designed, high quality and accessible service, and to make sure that everyone eligible was informed about it so that they could benefit from it.
For those eligible people most at risk, that meant reaching out through their support networks 鈥� either friends and family, formal social care or the informal voluntary sector which does so much to help those at need in our society.
Thousands of organisations and tens of thousands of people across the UK offered their time and effort, often for free, to make sure the most vulnerable could get the help to keep their TV services. Time and again I found that most people instinctively understand that TV services are a vital lifeline to many people, and that to lose those services would diminish their quality of life. That鈥檚 why they wanted to help us reach everyone who might benefit from the support, and we are profoundly grateful for that help.
The heart-warming relationship between Marian and David Parkes and community worker Jools Bott evident in the video below, typifies this safety net.
听This is an opportunity opportunity to offer our sincere thanks everyone who helped deliver the Switchover Help Scheme. We are grateful to partners , and to all our suppliers 鈥� among them service providers , , outreach providers and , and installation companies and Euro Aerials. Also, it would not have been possible without all the local authorities, other public bodies, charities and community groups who spread the word across the entire UK.
Last but not least, I must pay tribute to every installer, call agent and volunteer who made sure that the Help Scheme was a high quality service delivered with real understanding of our customers. So many people went the extra mile to make sure no-one was left behind.
Today we鈥檙e launching some legacy pages on bbc.co.uk which share some more Switchover Help Scheme films, along with some lessons learned. They can now be viewed at .
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Peter White is Chief Executive, Switchover Help Scheme