Bob Browning's blog

In 2008 people are going to start losing their analog TV and will have to switch to digital. Yes that is 2 years time!

I have Freeview – no big deal other than having to juggle with two remotes instead of one. However if you use a VCR to time-shift programs digital TV is close to unusable. So not only am I down for an extra set-top box for every other TV in the house I also have to replace my VCR – but with what? The answer is a PVR (Hard disk-based freeview decoder and recorder = sky+ for freeview) but try buying one. Last Saturday I checked John Lewis in Kingston – nothing. Even if they had one it would be obsolete – Freeview PVRs are in the rapid development stage where models are obsolete within months.

If we were serious about switching, every TV you buy would have an integrated decoder – but they don’t.

In short the country does not look as if it is ready for digital. It will come that is obvious but before it happens people need time to switch technology and two years is just not enough. Here in London it won’t be till 2012 – thank goodness.