Wales will today become the first nation of the UK to complete analogue switch-off. Shortly after midnight analogue signals from BBC One, ITV1, S4C and Five were turned off at the Wenvoe transmitters to be replaced later in the day by a bouquet of digital channels.
Emyr Byron Hughes, Digital UK’s National Manager in Wales, said in a statement: “This is an historic day for TV in Wales as we say goodbye to the old analogue system forever. Before switchover began, one-in-three Welsh viewers couldn’t receive Freeview. Today, virtually everyone in Wales has that choice with one million people gaining coverage”.
In addition to a lack of signals from Freeview Channel 4 will also be available in Wales for the first time in its 27 year history. In the analogue environment its place has been taken by the Welsh language S4C.