According to new survey, half of all tenants in rented accommodation do not understand how to switch to digital TV.
Whitehaven in Cumbria will be the first town to turn off the analogue signal this October. The process will be repeated region by region and the UK will be completely digital by 2012. Anyone who has not switched to digital by the correct date will be faced with a blank TV screen.
The survey by Digital UK, the body coordinating the switchover, revealed that only 43% of private tenants and 54% of social housing tenants understand the steps they must take in order to continue watching TV after the transition to digital. Both figures are significantly below the national average of 64%. Digital UK is now launching a campaign to raise awareness amongst landlords and tenants.
Many tenants live in blocks dependent on communal aerial systems, which will need updating. Only 3% of tenants have discussed switchover with their landlord, the survey found. While three-quarters of tenants do have digital TV on their main sets - either through an aerial, satellite, cable or broadband connection - less than one-third of secondary sets in rented properties have been converted.
Ford Ennals, chief executive of Digital UK, said:
"This research is a wake-up call for any landlords or tenants who have yet to start thinking about switchover."Our message is simple: switchover is coming, the countdown has started and you need to prepare.
"We have already been focusing communications on the social housing sector but are now stepping up a gear in response to low awareness, particularly among those renting in the private sector."
The timetable for digital switchover (by TV region) is:
