The new Commons Culture, Media and Sport Committee have announced an inquiry into the plans to switch off analogue telly between 2008 and 2012. Long time readers will know that I believe that it’s still far too soon to be switching off the analogue signal – particularly as there’s no real demand for the spectrum at the moment (although that’s not to say there won’t be).
Anyway, when the vast disenfranchisement of a valuable voting block (ie the elderly) becomes obvious, no government is going to want to stick to that timetable.
When 405 line television was finally switched off in 1984 some 20 years after 625 line television had begun broadcasting. That’s plenty of time for your old TV to break down in 20 years. A modern TV bought tomorrow is very likely to still be working in 2012.