Digital TV explained

Read our guide to digital TV to help you make the right decision.

Compare digital TV deals*

Long gone are the days when the family would crowd around a single TV set and bicker about which of the four (or five) channels to watch.

Analogue TV – phased out in 2012 – is old news and, like so many other things, the future is digital.

This means a better quality picture, a huge range of channels, parental controls, interactive menus and the power to watch what you want, when you want.

Digital TV can be a confusing affair – there are numerous providers, ways to watch and equipment set-ups available – but getting your perfect package needn’t be time-consuming or costly.

What equipment do I need?

Almost all TVs can be converted to digital with a digital box (even black and white ones), and a decent analogue aerial will still work well, so going digital doesn’t require a load of new gear.

Digital boxes can be purchased with a one-off payment, or will be supplied by your channel provider (see below).

However, if you choose to buy some new equipment you might consider a specially designed digital TV, or a high definition (HD) TV for crystal-clear viewing.

The important thing is that the equipment carries the ‘digital tick’ logo, which means it’s got digital compatibility.

What channels are available to me?

The channels you’re able to view depend on the way you watch digital TV. There are two main options:

One-off payment

In this instance, you purchase a digital box and are able to watch free digital channels, which include the channels previously available on analogue (BBC channels, ITV, Channel 4, etc), plus a range of other channels.

This is typically known as Freeview, but there are other providers available. There are no contracts involved, and no further costs.

Monthly subscription

Here, you subscribe to a channel package through a provider such as Sky, Virgin Media or BTVision. You choose what channels you want (from a huge range of entertainment, music, film, education and documentary options) and pay on a monthly basis.

One of the benefits of opting for a monthly package is that your provider will supply you with the necessary digital box, and can offer you low-cost (or sometimes free) upgrades to digital-recording boxes, which offer extra benefits like pausing and rewinding live TV and recording your favourite shows.

Things to consider

• Exactly which channels you can receive will depend on the area you live in. Comparing digital TV options with Gocompare.com will let you see results relevant to you
• The nature of digital TV means that there will be occasions when you’ll have to re-tune your box. This is pretty straightforward and your box will come with instructions on doing so, but if you’re worried this will be a problem you might consider a monthly subscription service which offers a dedicated helpline
• If you’re considering buying new equipment, take advantage of the fact that many new digital and HD TVs offer high energy efficiency standards, so they’ll cost you a lot less to power than your old analogue set.
• Providers like Sky, Virgin Media and BTVision are also experts in broadband, so consider switching your internet provider for package deals and extra savings
• Be aware of scams. There will always be people out there ready to capitalise on something new, so make sure you only contact reputable providers and purchase equipment from respected retailers. If you suspect that you’ve been a victim of a scam, contact the Consumer Direct helpline on 08454 04 05 06 for advice

Gocompare.com for digital TV

Gocompare.com has partnered with Digital Choice* – its preferred digital TV comparison service – to help you find the perfect TV package.

Whether you’re a reality show addict, documentary lover or can’t get enough of American sitcoms, we’ll find the right package for you based on your location, equipment and budget.