100 days until the digital TV roll out starts

Time is fast running out for people in Hawke’s Bay and on the West Coast, including St Arnaud and Murchison,  who are still to go digital.

Friday 22 June marks 100 days until Hawke’s Bay and the West Coast goes digital. After 30 September everyone in those regions who wants to watch TV will need to have Freeview or Sky.

Currently 87 per cent of households in Hawke’s Bay have gone digital compared to 91 per cent on the West Coast.

“Television viewing is one of the leading leisure activities in New Zealand and over the next 100 days we will be doing everything we can to make sure everyone in Hawke’s Bay and on the West Coast who wants to keep watching TV knows what they need to do,” said Going Digital National Manager Greg Harford.

New Zealand TV is going digital in stages with the rest of the South Island going digital on 28 April 2013 followed by the lower North Island on 29 September 2013 and finally the upper North Island on 1 December 2013.

“You don’t need a new TV to go digital but everyone will need a TV with Freeview built-in or the right set-top box together with a UHF aerial or satellite dish,” said Mr Harford.

Another thing to keep in mind is the fact that every TV needs to go digital if it is to continue receiving pictures as do DVD and video recorders.

Anyone with questions on the move to digital TV can visit www.goingdigital.co.nz or call             0800 838 800      .