BBC appoints Capita for Whitehaven scheme

[BGonaSTICK]

The BBC has selected outsourcing giant Capita to run the digital switchover help scheme in the Cumbrian town of Whitehaven, the first area of the UK to have its analogue signals switched off this October under the Government's 2007 to 2012 switchover timetable.

Capita was chosen by the BBC after the corporation's governing body, the BBC Trust, last week agreed the BBC would be responsible for delivering the scheme, which will assist those aged 75 and over, the severely disabled, and partially sighted or blind, in making the transition to digital TV.

Under a £1m contract running for 10 months from June, a help centre will be located in Whitehaven. Equipment needed to convert one television set to digital will be provided and installed, and follow-up support will also be offered.

The BBC said Capita was selected from a shortlist of four companies - the other bidders were BT, EAGA and Vertex. All four would now be eligible to continue to bid for the national contract to deliver the help scheme for the roll-out across the rest of the UK between 2008 and 2012.

That contract to run the £600m scheme, funded via the BBC's licence fee settlement, is expected to be awarded by the end of this year.