AS NORTH Wales prepares for the digital TV switchover the Leader and electrical retailer Comet looks at some of the most significant and memorable switchovers in history.
What is the Digital Switchover?
The digital TV switchover is the process of turning off the UK's analogue TV signal and replacing it with a digital signal.
Why is it happening?
The digital TV switchover is Government policy. It will mean that almost everyone will be able to receive digital TV through an aerial (Freeview).
Digital TV also uses less broadcast space which means that after switchover, there will be more room for new services such as wireless broadband, local TV and High Definition Television (HDTV).
What do I need to do?
To keep your TV service, you will need to convert your TVs to digital before your area’s switchover date.
For more information visit www.digitaluk.co.uk
History's Top Ten switchover
Mangle to washing machine
A far cry from the sleek and gleaming washing machines of today, the first patent under the category of Washing and Wringing Machines in England was filed in 1691.
The hand-powered mangler came later in 1843, crushing thousands of fingers until the 1940s when it began to be phased out as electrical models took over.
Horses to cars
Christmas Eve 1801 saw a steam-powered road locomotive built by engineer Richard Trevithick make its way up Camborne Hill in Cornwall for the first time.
A century later in 1903 the president of Michigan Saving's bank advised Henry Ford's lawyer not to invest in Ford's Motor Company, stating: "the horse is here to stay, the automobile is but a fad".
How wrong can one person be?
Telegram to telephone
Alexander Graham Bell demonstrated the telephone to Queen Victoria in 1878, making calls from the Isle of Wight to London, Cowes and Southampton.
Candle lamps to lightbulb
The lightbulb was invented by Thomas Alva Edisonin in 1879, putting an end to candle lamps.
The concept of electricity would have been scary to some, but we couldn't live in our modern world without it.
Lead slates to paper
It was just after Victorian times schools started to use paper to write on more regularly rather than the pieces of slate in wooden frames.
For one thing it certainly made carrying a school bag easier.
Black and white TV to colour TV
1967 saw the first programmes of BBC2's colour service which signalled the end of only watching broadcasts in black and white.
Shillings to pounds
1971 was the year when currency changed in the UK from shillings to pounds meaning a whole generation had to learn a new currency system.
Whether Sterling to Euro ever happens remains to be seen, but with the currency being predominant across Europe it will arguably will cause less disruption.
Marathon to Snickers
It was almost 20 years ago, 1990, when Marathon changed it's name to Snickers, causing heated debates on both sides of the Atlantic.
Imperial to Metric System
1995 saw the UK adopt the metric system as the only legal measuring system for all UK goods being sold, meaning that ounces turned to grams and pounds turned to kilos.
Smoking to non-smoking
Despite initial resistance to the idea of a smoking ban in enclosed public spaces, since 2007 when the ban came into fruition 16% of people say they have visited pubs more often than before.
Can you think of any more big switchovers?
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