Digital TV Switchover - Household Assistance Scheme
Digital TV Switchover—Household Assistance Scheme
Since 2010 Australia has been progressively switching off the analog TV signal and converting to digital TV. If you are eligible, the Australian Government’s Household Assistance Scheme is available to help you get ready.
Do you live in Sydney or Melbourne?
If you live in Sydney or Melbourne you may receive a letter from us to let you know how you can apply for the Household Assistance Scheme. You will have about nine months to apply. However to ensure you are able to receive assistance before the switch off occurs in December, we suggest you apply by June 2013.
Read more about the Household Assistance Scheme.
Quick links
- Visit the Digital Ready website
Australia is converting to digital TV. Analog TV signals are being gradually phased out region by region, and by the end of 2013 Australian TV will become digital only.
To keep receiving free-to-air TV after the digital switchover, you will need a TV that can receive digital signals. You can convert your current TV to digital by using a set-top box or a digital recording device, or you can buy a TV with a built-in digital tuner.
The Household Assistance Scheme has been introduced because the government recognises that some people will need help to make the switch to digital.
You may be eligible for help if you:
- live in a household in which you or your partner is receiving the maximum rate of:
- Age Pension
- Disability Support Pension
- Carer Payment
- Department of Veterans’ Affairs Service Pension
- Department of Veterans’ Affairs Income Support Supplement
- own a functioning TV
- do not already have access to all of the standard-definition digital TV channels on any of the TVs that you own (if you can watch ABC2 or SBS TWO, then you probably have access to digital TV)
- live in a TV licence area that is currently switching to digital TV
We will send a letter to people who may be eligible for the Household Assistance Scheme before their area is due to switch to Digital TV.
You need to know
Digital TV Switchover
Australia is converting to digital TV. Analog signals will be gradually switched off, and by the end of 2013 Australian TV will become digital only.
To find out when you need to switch over, use the mySwitch service on the Digital Ready website.
Help to become digital ready
To keep receiving free-to-air TV after the digital switchover, you will need a TV that can receive digital signals. You can convert your current TV to digital by:
- using a set-top box or
- using a digital recording device
or you can buy a TV with a built-in digital tuner.
The Australian Government understands that some people will need help to get ready for digital TV, which is why we have introduced the Household Assistance Scheme.
The Household Assistance Scheme
The Household Assistance Scheme will help eligible households receive digital TV signals. The package is free of charge, with a maximum of one per couple (including if you move house).
Eligibility for the Household Assistance Scheme
Find out whether you are eligible for the Household Assistance Scheme.
First steps
Applying for the Household Assistance Scheme
We will send a letter to people who may be eligible for the Household Assistance Scheme.
Application timeframe for the Household Assistance Scheme
The Household Assistance Scheme is available for at least nine months before and one month after the switch to digital TV in your region. To ensure you are able to receive assistance before the switch off occurs; you will need to apply as early as possible. Check mySwitch, on the Digital Ready website, for information about whether your region is open for application and when you are switching to Digital TV only.
Resources
Household Assistance Scheme information in your language
If you need information in another language about the Household Assistance Scheme, you can:
- call our Multilingual Call Centre on 131 202
- read the Digital Switchover Household Assistance Scheme factsheet, available in other languages on the Digital Ready website.