In response to Roy Saunders (Letters, December 21), he will be pleased to hear that the digital TV revolution will not bring about the need to scrap existing television sets, even when the analogue stations are switched off.

In fact digital TV is already with us, having been launched in the UK in 1998.

All people require is a Freeview box, the majority of which are compatible with any TV made in the past 50 years - even old black and white sets. Very often it is completely unnecessary to have a new aerial fitted. These boxes are getting cheaper, some now in the region of £15 to £20 as a one-off payment with no subscription fees.

They provide all the existing analogue channels and a whole host of others. Furthermore it is possible to record from this box to a regular video recorder.

Although we will not be seeing the "mountain of TV junk" as Mr.

Saunders predicts, we will all be seeing a mountain of, well, junk TV as broadcasters clamour to try and fill the increased number of channels. Look forward to even more reality shows involving Z-list celebrities, talent shows consisting of the most talentless dullards our fair isle can muster, and news and current events programmes that have been dumbed down to appeal to viewers with the attention span of a gnat. Oh, and Big Brother.

  • Tony Davenport, Vernon Terrace, Brighton