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Preparing for Digital Television
Poll
As you are likely to be aware the traditional way we receive television (analogue) will stop as of 2011 in this region . Whilst digital television is now available for many, for those in poor reception areas and those who receive their television signals via a communal area it isn't generally available. We are currently planning for this change and would like to seek your views.
The options
There are a number of options available for the types of television you are able to receive and further options in terms of how we could deliver this to you.
- Digital Terrestrial (Freeview) – This option provides you with just over 30 free channels. There is also the ability by buying the right type of digital tv or set-top box to opt for additional pay channels from 'Top-up TV' and/or 'Setanta'.
- Digital Satellite (Sky and Freesat) – This option will provide you with the option of 120 plus free channels and the option to pay for up to an additional 200 channels. Sky already provide a free channel package by paying a one-off fee for a set-top box and the BBC and ITV are expected to launch a rival free service in early 2008.
- Digital Cable (Virginmedia) – This option isn't available to a significant number of people. There isn't currently an option to just have free channels. You may be able to receive it within your block of flats.
The above list isn't exhaustive, but are the main options available to Colchester Borough Homes tenants.
How CBH can assist you in receiving digital television
There are currently two main ways we can assist you to receive digital television:
- Upgrade your current communal aerial system – This is the lowest cost option and enable you to just receive Digital Terrestrial, but it will not allow you to choose to access services such as Sky. Remember there is a limit of one or two satellite dishes on a block of flats, unless individuals successfully obtain planning permission.
- Install a new communal television system known as an integrated reception system – Whilst more expensive to install, this option will mean individuals can choose to receive either digital terrestrial or digital satellite. We would supply a satellite television signal so only one dish will be needed on any block of flats. Individuals who choose to receive digital satellite would just need a set-top box able to receive satellite tv.
Paying for the upgrades
Unfortunately there is no assistance being provided to landlords to upgrade their systems in preparation for the switch to digital television. We will therefore have to either purchase these systems or rent/lease them. We will then recover these costs to you via service charges.
We are currently undertaking work to get more accurate figures to identify the likely costs to individuals, but we currently estimate them to be:
Upgrade your current communal aerial system (Freeview only)
- CBH purchases the systems - £0.65 per week reducing to perhaps £0.35 after 5 years (estimate).
Install an integrated reception system (Freeview and Satellite)
- CBH purchases the systems - £1.45 per week reducing to perhaps £0.50 after 5 years (estimate).
- CBH rents/leases the systems on a 15 year contract – £0.85 per week (estimate)
Making your views none
If you would like to tell us your views on how CBH should upgrade to digital television, then please email us.
