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| Countdown to NI 's digital TV switchover underway | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| With fewer than two hours until the end of analogue TV broadcasting in the UK, preparations are underway to mark the digital switchover in Northern Ireland. | |
| It is the last UK region to switch off its signal, bringing an end to the 80-year-old transmission technology and heralding the dawn of the digital age. | It is the last UK region to switch off its signal, bringing an end to the 80-year-old transmission technology and heralding the dawn of the digital age. |
| It means anyone watching TV with an analogue signal will lose all channels and Ceefax at 23:30 BST on Tuesday. | It means anyone watching TV with an analogue signal will lose all channels and Ceefax at 23:30 BST on Tuesday. |
| A joint broadcast marking the event will be shown on UTV and BBC One NI. | A joint broadcast marking the event will be shown on UTV and BBC One NI. |
| Celebration | Celebration |
| The special programme, The Magic Box, is hosted by Eamonn Holmes and begins at 22:35 BST, less than an hour before the switchover. | The special programme, The Magic Box, is hosted by Eamonn Holmes and begins at 22:35 BST, less than an hour before the switchover. |
| The show is billed as a nostalgic celebration of "the best of Northern Ireland television over the past 60 years". | The show is billed as a nostalgic celebration of "the best of Northern Ireland television over the past 60 years". |
| Speaking during his rehearsals on Tuesday, Mr Holmes said it would have something for TV viewers of all ages. | Speaking during his rehearsals on Tuesday, Mr Holmes said it would have something for TV viewers of all ages. |
| "It doesn't matter if you're 80, 70, 60, 50, 40, 30, 20, there is something there for you that you remember from your past - the theme music, the clips and just the people and personalities involved. | "It doesn't matter if you're 80, 70, 60, 50, 40, 30, 20, there is something there for you that you remember from your past - the theme music, the clips and just the people and personalities involved. |
| "It's a real trip down memory lane and it is unique because it will not happen again." | "It's a real trip down memory lane and it is unique because it will not happen again." |
| He added: "We're loooking back at the past and yet with this switchover we move, hopefully seamlessly, into the future." | He added: "We're loooking back at the past and yet with this switchover we move, hopefully seamlessly, into the future." |
| Northern Ireland's most successful Olympian, Dame Mary Peters, has been given the honour of switching off the UK's last active analogue transmitter, at Divis in Belfast, shortly before midnight. | Northern Ireland's most successful Olympian, Dame Mary Peters, has been given the honour of switching off the UK's last active analogue transmitter, at Divis in Belfast, shortly before midnight. |
| The digital switchover also spells the end for BBC Ceefax, the world's first teletext service, after nearly four decades. | The digital switchover also spells the end for BBC Ceefax, the world's first teletext service, after nearly four decades. |
| Launched in the days before the internet and 24-hour rolling news, the aim of Ceefax was to give viewers access to the latest news, sports results and weather as soon as it came into the BBC's newsrooms. | Launched in the days before the internet and 24-hour rolling news, the aim of Ceefax was to give viewers access to the latest news, sports results and weather as soon as it came into the BBC's newsrooms. |
| On Tuesday evening, a series of graphics on Ceefax's front page will mark its 38 years on the BBC. | On Tuesday evening, a series of graphics on Ceefax's front page will mark its 38 years on the BBC. |
| Switchover advice | Switchover advice |
| Viewers who need information on how to update their TV equipment in order to access digital channels and digital text services should call Digital UK on 08456 50 50 50 for independent advice. | Viewers who need information on how to update their TV equipment in order to access digital channels and digital text services should call Digital UK on 08456 50 50 50 for independent advice. |
| Separately, the BBC runs a Switchover Help Scheme to help older and disabled people with everything they need to switch one TV to digital. | Separately, the BBC runs a Switchover Help Scheme to help older and disabled people with everything they need to switch one TV to digital. |
| For more information, call free on 0800 40 85 900 or visit the website. | For more information, call free on 0800 40 85 900 or visit the website. |
| Those already using digital TVs or set-top boxes will have to re-tune. | Those already using digital TVs or set-top boxes will have to re-tune. |
| However, if you have Sky TV, Virgin Media, freesat or Freesat from Sky on all your TV sets, then you do not have to do anything as your service will not be affected by the change. | However, if you have Sky TV, Virgin Media, freesat or Freesat from Sky on all your TV sets, then you do not have to do anything as your service will not be affected by the change. |