YORK "telly addicts" have five years to embrace digital technology or risk looking at a blank screen.

Media regulator Ofcom has recommended that analogue transmitters in the Yorkshire region are switched off in 2010, and in the Tyne Tees area a year later, as part of a five-year change-over to digital television.

The dates are subject to approval by the Culture Secretary, Tessa Jowell, which is likely to be forthcoming following the General Election.

Selby MP John Grogan, who chairs the Parliamentary cross-party BBC group, said the switchover would both increase choice for viewers, and free up valuable airwaves for other services such as mobile phones.

He said: "You could have more localised services, such as news. You are beginning to see a little bit of that with the BBC and ITV already," he said.

Mr Grogan said that viewers in York and North Yorkshire may be given help with the changeover.

"Over 50 per cent of people in North Yorkshire have some form of digital television. The boxes themselves are quite cheap, although sometimes there are additional expenses.

"The worry is that there might be people that live alone, elderly people, for example, who might not catch up with the publicity. It is possible that you might have to get some financial help to get everyone switched over. The BBC may also have to launch some kind of free satellite service."

Anthony Hewitt, deputy manager of Currys, in Clifton Moor, York, said digital television was already extremely popular with its customers. "People might come in to buy an analogue TV but will buy a set-top box as well.

"Gone are the days when you were limited to three channels. People see all the free channels advertised and they are keen to have them."

He said a 28in screen television with a built-in digital receiver costs about £400, while an analogue model of the same size is about £350. A set-top box is £30 to £40. Only 73 per cent of the population can receive Freeview at present.

There are three ways to receive digital television:

1) Freeview: There are 30 free channels available, including news, children's and music channels. You can also receive a host of digital radio stations. To get Freeview, you need either a television with a built-in receiver, or a set-top box, which plugs into your equipment. But you may need to upgrade your aerial, television set or video recorder. For more information, phone 08708 80 99 80 or visit www.freeview.co.uk

2) Satellite: There are more than 200 free satellite channels and a further 200 available on subscription to Sky. You need a mini-dish and a Sky set-top box to receive them. For more information on free satellite, phone Sky on 08706 061111. To find out about subscription channels, phone Sky on 08702 424242 or visit www.sky.com

3) Cable: This is a subscription-only service, usually combined with phone and internet services from a single provider. Viewers receive digital television through their phone line and a set-top box. Neither of the country's main cable companies, ntl:home and Telewest, have made digital television available to homes in North and East Yorkshire, but there is an ntl:home service in parts of York.

Updated: 10:00 Friday, February 11, 2005