The UK electrical industry has announced plans to phase out analogue only reception equipment in the months leading up to analogue switchoff (ASO). The Digital Switchover Supply Chain Group, which represents high street names including Currys, Comet, Tesco, Sony and Panasonic, has also promised to increase the level of information made available to consumers.
A package of measures to be introduced by the end of 2007 includes the acceleration of the availability of digital TV displays – including the smaller displays of below 16 inches often used as second sets – and which have been painfully missing from retailers shelves. While nine out of ten of the large screen sets sold in the first seven months of 2007 were IDTVs with a built in digital tuner, 85% smaller sets under 26 inches in diameter were analogue. Information regarding analogue sets will be clearly displayed in store.
Analogue recorders, including analogue DVD recorders, will now be phased out across the industry. Leading retail chain Currys has already phased out the sale of analogue video recorders, and manufacturers Sony and Panasonic are no longer making the units.