Fears persist of 'digital divide'

The Scottish Borders will go digital later this year

The Border TV region will have the lowest level of access to additional channels in the UK as a result of going digital, a report has suggested.

In November, the Scottish Borders will become the first full region to lose its analogue signal.

Television watchdog Ofcom said 98% of homes in the Border TV area would get the main package of about 17 channels.

However, only 53% will be able to receive additional digital channels - well below the UK average of 90%.

The figures are much higher in other parts of Britain, with the second lowest percentage - 73% - being found in Wales.

PERCENTAGE OF HOMES WITH ACCESS TO ADDITIONAL CHANNELS AFTER SWITCHOVER Anglia 86% Border 53% Central 98% Granada 97% London 95% Meridian 84% Anglia 86% STV Central 93% STV North (Grampian) 79% Tyne Tees 96% Ulster 78% Wales 73% West 94% Westcountry 74% Yorkshire 97%

Other parts of Scotland also show higher levels of coverage, with STV Central at 93% and STV North (Grampian) at 79%.

The report has prompted renewed concern from Borders MP Michael Moore about a "digital divide".

He claims the figures show that the region is not getting the same service as the rest of the country.

"It seems we are to accept all the risk of undergoing switchover first, without any of the advantages that other areas will have," he said.

Digital UK, which is overseeing the change, has regularly denied that accusation.

It has pointed out that viewers in the Border TV region - which also includes Dumfries and Galloway and Cumbria - will get a better service than the one they currently receive.

The problem centres around the number of main transmitters and relay transmitters in an area.

The Border TV region has a large number of the latter.

However, homes served by relay transmitters will generally not receive as many channels as those on a main transmitter.

Mr Moore has called on the government to take action to address the situation.

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