The council needs to upgrade the current system to ensure that our tenants can continue to watch television after the official switchover from analogue to digital signals in 2012. The decision about the switchover was made by central government, to give residents access to a whole range of channels in addition to the five main terrestrial channels.
The council currently provides a communal television system across the city to approximately 12,000 properties which are mainly flats. This system needs to be upgraded and will be installed for all of these properties.
If you are in a building that is NOT currently served by this communal system, the council will not upgrade the television aerial or equipment as it is the tenant’s responsibility to arrange and pay for.
The full range of options was outlined to all tenants via the 2008 autumn edition of the Tenants’ Link magazine. We also requested for tenants to submit their preferred choice and the most popular one - the Integrated Reception System - was chosen.
The new system will provide access to the digital TV and radio channels, but to actually view the additional channels you will need to have a TV with an inbuilt digital tuner or a Freeview box for older televisions.
It will also provide access to a satellite signal that can access the SKY and BBC Freesat services including SKY+ and SKY HD. However, it will not give you free access to the services. If you wish to use these additional services, you will need to arrange a subscription-based contract directly with SKY or purchase a BBC Freesat box.
Yes. All of the digital channels will be available once the new system is installed but this is subject to you having the correct equipment as detailed in the answer to question 4.
A company called Firstline Digital are carrying out this work for the council. A tender process which involved a quality evaluation, a financial evaluation and interviews, was followed with a number of contractors. Firstline Digital were appointed based on the results of this evaluation process.
Work commenced in the SO14 area in June 2010 and will be completed in the SO15, SO16, SO17, SO18 and SO19 areas over a period of 12 months. You can find further information at your local housing office.
Yes. Most of the required work is completed outside of the block but Firstline Digital will need access to your property for about 45 minutes to one hour.
They will write to you directly informing you of the date when they will need access. If this date is not suitable, there will be a contact number for you to rearrange the appointment and they can offer weekend and evening calls if needed.
Yes. This is because the council needs to recover the cost of this work and the ongoing maintenance. Once the work is completed, a service charge of 45 pence per week will be added to council tenants’ bills. Once the money has been recovered, the service charge for the equipment will cease but a maintenance charge will remain. This will be set following a tender exercise for this service but we will keep you informed.
Leaseholders will be charged under the terms of their leasehold agreement. This will include a one-off charge for the work and an annual maintenance charge that has initially been set at approximately £2.50 per year. This will be reviewed annually subject to actual costs but we will keep you informed.
The weekly charge to be introduced by the council is covered by housing benefit.
There is also a national help scheme set up for those people who have not already made arrangements to view digital TV. This applies if you: are aged 75 or over; get or could get Disability Living Allowance, Attendance Allowance, Constant Attendance Allowance or mobility supplement; have lived in a care home for six months or more, or are registered blind or partially sighted.
The standard offer includes: easy-to-use digital equipment; home delivery and installation if required; an aerial check and replacement required. In addition to the standard offer you could get access to an advice helpline and a 12 month digital TV aftercare service. If you are eligible, you will be contacted directly by the help scheme before 2012 (most likely to be in 2011) to determine the level of help you need. Their contact details are 0800 40 85 900 or www.helpscheme.co.uk.
No. You do not need to buy a new TV if it has a scart or RF input, as almost any TV can be converted with a digital Freeview box - even black and white TVs. Unfortunately, if your TV does not have either a scart or RF input, it cannot be converted to receive digital TV.
The council will install one connection into your lounge. If work is required on additional TVs in the property, it will be the tenant’s responsibility to arrange connection and pay any charge associated with the required work.
If you do not already have a digital TV or a Freeview box and do not do anything, you will not be able to watch television after the official switchover for the Meridian area in 2012.
If you have already purchased a digital TV, once the new communal system is installed you will be able to view all digital channels without the need for any further equipment.
After the switchover, your video or DVD recorder will still be able to play video tapes or DVDs and record digital TV programmes. However, if you do not have a digital recorder and wish to record a TV programme, you will not be able to watch any other channel while it records.
The aim of the new system is not only to provide tenants with access to the digital channels, but also to improve the appearance of the blocks and neighbourhoods alike. This system will enable the removal of existing aerials and dishes that have been installed on the side of blocks, many of which contravene planning regulations.
The appointed contractor Firstline Digital will remove these at the time of installing the new system. They will either hand the aerial/dish back to you or you can authorise them to take away and recycle your equipment by signing a form.
No. The engineer from Firstline Digital will disconnect your current SKY dish but reconnect the cables to the new system. Whatever services you were receiving these will continue until you cancel or change your agreement directly with SKY.
The current system is managed by Virgin Media and the cables etc are their property. Although, these will stay in place unless Virgin Media wish to remove them, the current analogue signal will still be switched off soon after the installation of the new service to your block.
No. Your existing service agreement will continue until you wish to change or cancel the agreement directly with them.
For general information about the national UK switchover please contact Digital UK on telephone: 08456 50 50 50, textphone: 0845 234 0380 or at www.digitaluk.co.uk.
Southampton City Council
