UK Digital TV Packages
Find the digital TV package for your home
BeatThatQuote.com guide to Digital Television
Use the below guide to find out all the information you will need to know when deciding on the Digital TV supplier best suited for you.
What is digital Television?
Digital television is a method of sending television program broadcasts from the broadcasters to your television sets. It works by converting the pictures and sounds into small pieces of information which are compressed and sent from the broadcaster to your television set. There are a number of ways you can receive these signals from cable, to aerial, satellite dish or broadband internet connection. Once you receive these small pieces of information they are converted back to sounds and pictures using a decoder which is either found in your television or in a set top box.
Benefits of digital television
The advantages of digital television include better picture quality, as well as producing true widescreen images. As well as this digital television takes up less space than the current analogue signal. This means there is more room for many more digital channels, radio channels, as well as extra features such as interactive TV, 'the red button' and High Definition television.
Digital Switchover
In 2012 the current analogue signal is to be switched off. This means that everyone in the UK needs to have switched over to digital television by this date. The analogue switchover is to be managed in a staggered way region by region. The dates by region are as follows:
- 2008 - Border
- 2009 - West Country, HTV, Wales, Granada
- 2010 - HTV West, Grampian, Scottish Television
- 2011 - Yorkshire, Anglia, Central
- 2012 - Meridian, Carlton/LWT (London), Tyne Tees, Ulster
Types of digital TV
There are three main type of digital TV:
- Free-to-air digital TV
This is commonly known as terrestrial television. This gives you access to channels such as BBC1, BBC2, ITV1, ITV2, Channel 4, Five and E4. There is no subscription charge, all you need is either a digitally enabled television or set top box and you will be able to receive the digital signal. - Digital Satellite TV
Digital satellite TV involves digital TV information being sent in radio waves via satellite dishes. To receive digital TV in this format you will need to have a mini dish installed on the outside of your home as well as set top box and a viewing card to allow you to enable the signal. All of this equipment is usually provided by your digital television supplier. In the UK the main supplier of digital television in this format is SKY. - Digital cable TV
Digital cable involves a fiber optic cable in which the signal is transmitted from the broadcaster to your television. Digital cable TV is offered through Virgin Media in the UK and is available to homes in large towns and cities. Our digital television comparison service allows you to find out if your home is situated in an area that can receive Virgin Media's service.
Cost of digital TV
There are a huge number of digital television packages available in the market, from Freeviews basic digital TV services with just an upfront one off payment, to Sky's full TV package with monthly payment. BeatThatQuote.coms digital television service compares every package in the market to help you find the right deal for you.
