Scotland hoteliers and B&Bs are still unprepared for the forthcoming switchover to digital TV and run the risk of their guests being stuck with blank screens, with the country’s first switchover region being the least prepared.

According to research released by Digital UK, establishments in some parts of Scotland are more ‘switched on’ than others. However some fifty-eight per cent of accommodation providers in the Border TV region have not yet switched to digital and risk disappointing their customers.

This region will be the first in Scotland to start switching to digital when the Selkirk transmitter – which serves the Scottish Borders – transfers to digital on November 6 this year.

Viewers in Dumfries and Galloway – served by the Caldbeck transmitter – will switch to digital TV in the second quarter of 2009.

Of those establishments which have already switched, ninety per cent said that they had found the process easy or no harder than they had expected and eighty per cent found the costs were in line with what they expected. More than three quarters were also satisfied with the new multi-channel television they were now able to offer to their guests.

Businesses are being urged to plan for switchover now and where possible carry out any upgrading work. Digital UK has already started working with organisations such as VisitScotland to spread the switchover message to all accommodation providers in Scotland and help advise them on how to prepare for the switchover.

More information is available at http://www.digitaluk.co.uk/propertymanagers/home/ 

Digital UK has set up a special hotline and website for tourism property managers, which gives details on when switchover is occurring region by region, how to switch and the likely costs.

The hotline is: 08458 455 455.