Digital Switchover spokesperson, Gay Byrne added his voice to National Digital Switchover Week by hosting a special performance of ‘The Fog’ in Whitefriar Street Community Centre, Aungier Street, Dublin today.
‘The Fog’ is a short play written by Mayo man, John Corless, which is based on an entertaining exchange between a couple in a living room in a home in rural Ireland on Wednesday 24th October, 2012, the day of the switchover, when the husband realises to his dismay that he has no picture on his beloved TV. The 15 minute play will be performed in a number of community centres throughout Mayo and around the country throughout National Digital Switchover Week (17th – 23rd September) and offers an engaging way to create greater awareness.
Organised by the Department of Communications, Energy & Natural Resources (DCENR) in partnership with The Wheel and Irish Rural Link, National Digital Switchover Week sees 26 local Digital Outreach Champions across the country organise events in their communities to encourage those who have not yet switched to digital TV to do so during the week. The week of events will conclude just one month before the analogue TV network in Ireland is switched off at 10.00am on Wednesday 24th October, 2012.
From coffee mornings to information events in local shopping centres and from family fun day events to open days in local community centres, National Digital Switchover Week features a whole range of events and initiatives aimed at encouraging local communities to get informed, make the switch to digital TV and not leave it until the last minute. Many retailers throughout the country will also be offering special deals as part of the National Digital Switchover Week.
Noteworthy local events include:
Meath: Tea Dance in Trim GAA, 1.30pm Thursday 20th September;
Mayo: DSO showcased at Mid West Radio’s annual hospice day
Roscommon/Leitrim: Rural Lift (Rural Transport Initiative) all bus routes will have events;
Kerry: Kerry Flyer Road Show Mobile Unit visiting community centres all week
East Galway: Awareness Event with Ballymacward Social Services on Thursday 20th
Westmeath: Information event in the Hotel Castlepollard, 11.00am Thursday 20th
Offaly: Information day in Bridgewater Shopping Centre, Tullamore hosted by Digital Switchover Campaign and Transition Year on Friday 21st September.
Commenting at the launch yesterday, Minister Rabbitte said, “National Digital Switchover Week is a core part of our national outreach programme which we have developed in partnership with The Wheel and Irish Rural Link. We are optimistic that a combination of the timing of this initiative - just one month before the analogue TV service gets switched off on Wednesday 24th October – and the number of local events in the heart of communities all over the country will encourage those who have still not made the switch to digital TV to do so during National Digital Switchover Week and avoid the last minute rush. In addition, most of us will have neighbours, friends or relatives who will need some assistance with the switch. So why not offer to give a helping hand during National Digital Switchover Week?”
Through a sustained high-profile advertising campaign fronted by Gay Byrne, the delivery of public information booklets to every home in the country in June and ongoing local awareness initiatives led by the Digital Outreach Champions as part of the Department’s Outreach programme, the DCENR has made a concerted effort over the past 6 months, in particular, to remind people not to get left behind and make the switch.
All those still using the old analogue TV network will continue to see a ‘bug’ on the bottom right corner of their TV screen which will be a permanent reminder and countdown to analogue switchover date, October 24th. This ‘bug’ will remain on all analogue TV screens until October 24th or until those TV sets have been switched to the digital network.
A full list of National Digital Switchover Week events and guidance on the Digital Switchover are available at www.goingdigital.ie, through LoCall 1890 940 980 (English language) and 1890 940 970 (Irish language).