DSG International To Stop Stocking Analogue

Retail chains Dixons, PC World and Currys have today announced that they will no longer stock analogue TVs in any of their branches, with a view to offering Freeview-ready digital TVs which have an in-built digital tuner, as part of the wider move towards the digital TV switchover process which will end in 2012.

The move comes in preparation for the digital switchover, in which the UK analogue broadcasting signal will be completely phased out over the course of the next few years in favour of a stronger digital signal to improve TV access and distribution throughout the UK, and follows a growing trend of digital TV sales nationwide.

According to the parent group DSG International, the retail chain already sell 90% digital TVs, with very little new sales coming from analogue units which should theoretically make the move easier and more natural from a commercial perspective.

However it does suggest that retailers are now starting to face up to the realities of the switchover, which will see analogue TVs across the UK lose their signal over the next few years on a regional basis and could see many more retailers follow suit as regards sales of outdated analogue units.

The move comes at a time where DSG International has just reported a dramatic slowdown in sales over the Christmas period, leading to a reduction in profit margins as it sought to drive demand through slashing retail prices.

It remains to be seen whether the decision to stop stocking analogue units will help with profitability and whether its competitors will take similar steps to limit their product lines in the run up to the digital switchover process, which begins in November of this year in the Borders and culminates in 2012.

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