Bad weather 'could threaten switchover'

A repeat of last year's summer storms could threaten the digital switchover timetable, according to an official audit report.

The National Audit Office said all signs were that the process was going well. However, work to put up new masts for digital was delayed by exceptionally bad weather last year, using up set aside "contingency" time.

There is now no leeway in the timetable for turning off analogue in the Granada area late next year. Officials are working on a back up plan that could involve a "reserve transmitter".

"It is too early to say whether the departments will secure their objectives for digital switchover, but they have so far made good progress: the programme has genuine momentum," said this week's NAO report.

"Progress in getting the public to switch to digital television has exceeded the Departments’ expectations, with main set conversion at 85 per cent, and a successful switchover in the flagship area of Copeland."

It continued: "The infrastructure construction programme is largely on track, even though some of the contingency in the timetable was used up in 2007 due to bad weather. There remains a residual risk that external events, for example a repeat of the adverse weather of 2007, could delay the conversion of some transmitters.

"In the first large region to switch, Granada in late 2009, there is no contingency for further slippage in the timetable to convert the key transmitter for three million households. Action to recover the timetable at this site could delay the completion of work at other sites.

"If the Granada transmitter is not converted on time, contingency arrangements currently under discussion include using a reserve transmitter, and the departments do not expect any significant impact on the current conversion timetable."

The report said two-thirds of the population now understand what they need to do to get ready for switchover. It also found takeup of the Digital UK's Digital Switchover Help Scheme was "significantly lower" than expected in Copeland, the site of the first analogue switch-off.

The NAO found that if the demand was the same across the country the BBC and other switchover partners could have set aside £250m too much for the scheme.

"Progress so far is encouraging, but there is a long way to go with almost one third of licence fee payers still not understanding switchover, up to 26m analogue television sets yet to be replaced or converted and nearly 1,200 transmitter sites to be upgraded," said Tim Burr, head of the NAO.