UK hoteliers and B&B owners unprepared for DSO says Digital UK

[BGonaSTICK]

The majority of UK hoteliers and B&B owners are unprepared for the forthcoming switchover to digital TV - running the risk of their guests being stuck with blank screens, according to research by Digital UK.

Forty-seven per cent of those questioned said that they had not switched to digital yet. Fifty-four per cent of those who have not fully converted their properties to digital TV said they have no plans in place to do so. The figures were particularly high in the Border TV area, West Country and Wales - which are the first UK regions due to switch.

The research, which was carried out for Digital UK, the organisation coordinating the national switch to digital television, shows that smaller hotels, B&Bs and caravan site owners are the least prepared, while larger chains have taken more steps to convert their equipment.

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 multichannel television they were now able to offer to their guests.

Jane Ostler, Digital UK's Director of Housing says: "Eighty-five percent of British households now watch digital TV at home and they expect it when they stay at a hotel or guest house. Our research shows that, with switchover gathering pace over the next twelve months, the tourism sector must do more to avoid guests coming downstairs to complain that there really is nothing on TV!"

"And it's not as difficult as you might think. The vast majority of hotels, guest houses and B&Bs who've already made the switch have found it easy and say that their guests have been happy with the extended choice offered by digital television."

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. Letters will also be sent directly to tourism businesses with advice and information.