Digital TV switchover boom for bamboozlers

Published: 15 July, 2010

• THE huge advantage of switching Britain from analogue to digital television is that it replaces five free channels with around 50 free channels.

Most people will like only a few channels, but different people will like different channels.

So we get free wider choice.

The billion or more quid this is costing across the UK is being paid for by the BBC (from our licence fees) and by the commercial broadcasters (from ad revenue).

So the viewer wins at next to no cost.

The huge disadvantage of the big free TV switch is that it has given opportunist salesmen, “consultants” and land­lords (big and small) the opportunity to bamboozle homeowners and tenants with scare talk about blank screens in the future.

I have personally seen – and been able to shoot down – a report on one block of flats in Camden that recommended many tens of thousands of pounds expenditure that was almost totally unnecessary.

The big question is this: who advised Camden on the changes now contracted to its properties, how independent were the advisers and who in Camden had the skill to judge the advice before signing the contract?

So far I have not seen this question asked or answered.

BARRY FOX
Contributing Editor, Europe
Consumer Electronics Daily
Belsize Grove
NW3