Digital UK targets tenants and landlords

[BGonaSTICK]

Digital UK, the industry-funded body charged with coordinating digital switchover, is launching a campaign aimed at boosting awareness among tenants and landlords after research suggested that around half of the tenants in the UK do not know how to continue to watch TV after analogue signals are switched off.

Joint research by Digital UK and Ofcom found that 43% of private tenants and 54% of council tenants understand how to prepare for switchover compared to the national average of 64%. Just 3% of tenants have discussed switchover with their landlord.

With half of all those living in flats dependent on communal aerial systems, Digital UK called for action from both landlords and tenants to ensure no one is left in the dark after switchover.

"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," said Digital UK CEO Ford Ennals.

"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."

[Unknown user #1]

<rant>

So I guess the next step will be distribution of free Freeview receivers (+ free installation, of course) - taxpayer funded, just because some lazy arses can't be bothered to convert their setup to digital? Is the state absolutely must intervene to get it done?
How about "you either do arrangements yourself or no soap-operas for life" approach instead? Jeez, where this country is heading to?

</rant>

[BGonaSTICK]

I believe that there is a (relatively small) finite budget for supplying subsidised Freeview boxes to the ultimate 'refuseniks', and I think some of those are definitely genuine cases. I definitely see the system being abused though, with thousands getting into 'opportunists' hands.

Those genuine cases that miss out will be able to buy them back from the robbing barstewards on eBay though.

[Unknown user #1]

In my opinion, if someone decided not to follow the development and be a 'refusenik' then to hell with them. This is their own choice, why taxes should be spent on these people at all?

[Yorks]

How many will take down their Sly dish and hide the box to get a 'free' freeview box - for Ebay resale. :roflmao:

[BGonaSTICK]

Many old folks just don't have a clue. I've shown my poor old mum a hundred times how to use her Freeview box, but she just can't do it. She always ends up back on analogue TV.

She can just about get the hang of the basics, then the STB will lock up once in a while (shitty Humax F2-FOX T) and she's lost.

I can genuinely understand the fear of new technology that some old folks have, and they deserve some help, especially if they're strapped for cash.

My mum struggles to walk, and going out for a newspaper is too much some days. The phone and TV are her main forms of contact with the outside world.

If she doesn't get a replacement STB, I'll have to buy her another one. Her eyesight and hearing aren't good enough to get any advantage from digital TV, and she doesn't really want it. I can understand her resentment.

She's paid her TV 'tax' for the last 40 years or more. I think she deserves a little help now

Oh, and welcome to the forum Yorks!

[Unknown user #1]

Well.. pensioners are different story, I agree.

[Yorks]

Yep. I quite agree.............. Unless they are stinking rich and hiding their money in the commode. :

[BGonaSTICK]

If my mum has her life savings in the commode, they can bl00dy well stay there! :-X

[Yorks]

Genuine cases like your mum . But anyone caught stashing their cash in the commode ought to be interred (or should that be inturd?). :roflmao: