THE West television region including Gloucestershire and South Gloucestershire will switch to digital transmission on March 24, 2010, it has been announced.

Digital UK, the independent body in charge of the process, said nine out of 10 people in the region are already aware of the big switchover.

Bill Taylor, Digital UK’s South West regional manager, said: "Once the process is complete, virtually all viewers will have the opportunity to enjoy digital TV through an aerial, offering many homes more choice than ever before."

The West region will be served by four main transmitters and 59 relay transmitters. The changes will see digital terrestrial television (Freeview) available to virtually every home in the area including, for the first time, more than 140,000 households served by local ‘relay’ transmitters.

When analogue signals are switched off and replaced with digital broadcasts, the number of free channels will increase from four to around 20.

Analogue services will be switched off in two stages at each transmitter group. At stage one, BBC Two will cease broadcasting in analogue and the first group of Freeview digital channels will become available from relay transmitters. Two weeks later, the remaining analogue channels will be permanently switched off and replaced with additional digital services.

Letters will be sent to every household eligible for help from the Switchover Help Scheme, which offers assistance and equipment to convert one television for people aged 75 or over, registered blind or partially sighted, on certain disability benefits or living in a care home for six months or more. Those eligible will be contacted directly, offered help and sent information packs in time for switchover.

Karen Farnworth, from the Switchover Help Scheme in the West region, said: "We will be writing to everyone who is eligible for the scheme, explaining exactly what help is available and what needs to be done.

"The most important thing is not to worry – we will be in touch."

She said latest research indicates nine out of ten people in the West region are aware of the digital switchover, and 87 percent had already converted their main television set.