With 15 days to go until television goes digital in most of the South Island, including Otago, 90% of viewers have already made the switch, Freeview technical manager Tim Diprose says.
The free-to-air analogue television signal will be switched off on April 28 for most of the South Island and those without a digital free-to-air technology will be unable to keep watching.
Freeview is the digital free-to-air service, although pay television providers also include free-to-air channels in their packages.
Mr Diprose said 10% still did not have access to digital free-to-air and many of the 90% who did probably had not organised how they would record or watch television on their second television after the switchover.
''We don't expect a massive surge on the day as the switchover has been pretty constant.''
Most homes had an average 2.4 televisions and if they were older sets, freeview access would be needed for each, he said.
A range of options was available for viewers from as little as $79 that did not require investment in a large, ''flash'' television.
Freeview did not recommend people try to hook up a Freeview or similar box to older VHF recorders, as newer hard-drive recorders were so much easier to operate in the digital environment, he said.
Step-by-step instructions on Freeview coverage and what technology was needed were available on Freeview's website or goingdigital.co.nz.
