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Getting in the picture
THE Digital UK roadshow rolled into Cleveleys today – too late to save Ena Baker, of Bispham, from splashing out on a new aerial.Ena's in a Blackpool superstore and in a dilemma when we catch up with her. She's 74 and on attendance allowance and pension credit. It makes her eligible for a package of free aid.
She's one of a more than a million older and disabled people in the Granada area who qualify for free or subsidised aid, but she hasn't been notified by post yet by the national switchover help scheme run by the BBC.
Those letters will arrive between now and August. Many have already been received.
Ena's already been talked into buying a new aerial at her semi by a salesman on the knock, even in a 'no cold-calling' zone.
It cost her 150, although she could have got it cheaper, for a new digital aerial, installation and cabling to her living room and bedroom.
It probably wasn't needed and if it had been, she would have qualified for one free under the national Switchover Help scheme.
Now she's wondering whether she needs a new High Definition-ready telly on the advice of her 24-year-old grandson.
She visited the store, with her daughter, to buy a Roberts radio but ended up talking pixels and interlaced scanning with a young assistant more Blu-ray than blue rinse.
"My grandson says I need 1080p but I've no idea what he means," she admits. Her daughter's more techno-savvy. "There is absolutely no need to change your set, mum," she assures her. "Mark's telling you that because he stays at your place and wants a new telly!"
A set top digital box is probably all that Ena needs, depending on how much telly she wants to see and how many recordings she does.
She's slipped through the net which exists to safeguard vulnerable members of our community simply because she's jumped the gun. Lessons can be learned by us all.
That's why this week's Digital UK roadshows (top) are timely. It's an independent not-for-profit body to help people make the changeover, regardless of age or other factors.
They started today in Cleveleys, at the Sun Plaza, at the top of Victoria Road West. There's another, in the Market Place, Poulton, tomorrow, Lord Street, Fleetwood, Thursday, Orchard Road, St Annes, Friday, and Church Street, Blackpool, Saturday. All from 9am to 5pm.
Digital UK also remind people that most need not alter their roof-top aerials.
Homes across the Granada region will see the BBC2 analogue signal turned off on
November 4 and the rest in December.
A set-top box is all that's needed to convert each TV, unless an aerial really is in a bad way.
Set top boxes are cheap and easy to install. But for many elderly and disabled people help is free or there are other packages available at a subsidised rate.
As Granada is the biggest region to make the change, switchover help staff admit it will take time to notify all who are eligible. In the meantime the message is: don't panic!
Martin Plenderleith, spokesperson in the Granada region, says: "We are here to do everything we can to make sure that no eligible people will be left behind. We will be writing to everyone who is eligible explaining exactly what help is available and what they need to do. The most important thing is not to worry – we will be in touch.
"We will mail the options available. The turnround is quick once we get into an area.
"We hope, once we've mailed them, our clients don't leave it to the 11th hour – the sooner the better if they want to watch new programmes as well as old favourites."
Mrs Baker really doesn't want to watch 20 digital telly channels or hundreds more.
"I just want to be able to watch or record my old favourites and still be able to play my VHS tapes and use my DVD player for films.
"I've been staying with my daughter since breaking my hand in a fall and she's got Sky - and I've never watched so much telly before.
"The Government has forced this on us to make more money. They say it's about choice but the choice is rubbish."
* Call the Help Scheme free on 0800 40 85 906.
jacqui.morley@blackpoolgazette.co.uk
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Wednesday 30 May 2012
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