The great digital switchover starts in 2008 and is due to finish in 2012 around the United Kingdom but not in the Channel Islands.
The analogue TV signal will be switched off leaving millions of televisions, video players and equipment obsolete, well sort of – they can all be fixed with a £20 freeview box.
Joe Smithies of the Digital UK group told BBC Radio Jersey’s John Uphoff show that the Channel Islands would be switched in 2013.
Unlike other areas of the UK there won’t be a crossover period though. Jersey will only have analogue one day and then only have freeview the next.
From what I’ve been told in the past this is because there aren’t enough frequencies available to launch freeview and analogue in Jersey at the same time.
Jersey won’t get the full set of channels either, apparently due to commercial reasons the island will only get the basic public services stations from the BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and five.
Joe Smithies expects the average cost per household will be about £100 to switch fully from analogue to Digital in 2008 but a lot less by 2013 when Jersey jumps ship.
Ryan Morrison is a geek, journalist and someone obsess with media, technology and geek culture. He writes for the BBC in Jersey on any subject that falls on his desk and presents a show about the islands music scene. He has been blogging for six years.