Senator Stephen Conroy, Minister for Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy, visited the resident, Frank Jamieson, in Merbein near Mildura, where he announced the milestone and demonstrated the benefits of Digital TV in regional areas of Australia.

“Mr. Jamieson will now be able to enjoy much better picture and sound quality, and more channels,” Conroy said in a statement.

“This is why we have put in place the Household Assistance Scheme – firstly for the Mildura TV license area and then for eligible households in the next regions to make the switch to digital-only television.”

Those who are eligible for the program should have already received a letter in the mail, but if not must meet criteria including no access to a digital television, own a functioning analogue television, and should have at least one resident who receives the maximum age pension, disability support pension, career payment or a Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) Service Pension or the DVA income-support supplement payment.

The scheme provides a government contractor who will install and supply a high-definition set-top box, a requirement for digital television, and will also show the resident how to use the device. If need be, contractors will also carry out cabling and installation of antennas as well.

In 55 days Mildura residents will only be able to receive digital television signals, with the analogue signals for the Sunraysia region being switched off on June 30.The Australian Government will begin switching analogue signals off around the rest of Australia in the coming years.