IT'S official – deadline day for the Bundaberg region's switch to digital television is December 6 this year.

The move to digital television has been a long time coming, with the region originally having been set down for the middle of this year for the switchover, but without a confirmed date.

Digital economy minister Stephen Conroy said 506,000 households in regional Queensland, including Wide Bay, would switch to digital-only free-to-air TV by December 6.

“More than four out of five households in regional Queensland have already converted to digital TV, according to the latest Digital Tracker survey to the end of March 2011,” Senator Conroy said.

“Those households yet to make the switch to digital now have a deadline for when their analog TV signals will be switched off for good.”

The minister said in the lead-up to the switchover date, broadcasters would be rolling out new digital TV transmitters to improve the quality of digital TV reception throughout the switchover regions.

In addition to improved reception the Household Assistance Scheme will provide practical help to eligible households in regional Queensland to make the switch to digital TV through the supply and installation of a high-definition set-top box at no extra cost to eligible recipients.