OVER the next 10 years the Government wants every household in the country to be watching all its television digitally.

According to Alan Yentob, the BBC's director of drama, entertainment and children's TV, this will provide each viewer with what can only be described as bespoke television. Tailor-made telly if you like.

Yentob, whose family once owned a textile mill in Bolton, was in Manchester to talk about possibly the most significant development in history.

"This is something we have been talking about and researching for the past four or five years and I believe that in three years, 75 per cent of families with young children will all have digital," says Yentob.

The BBC also believes it has set out on one of the most significant, and probably expensive, developments in its history.

As a company spokesman dramatically put it: "First there was the invention of television, then came the move from black and white to colour -- now we have digital."

The BBC has recently had eight new digital services approved by the Government -- both on TV and radio.

"These new services can only result in the BBC producing even more high calibre programmes," says Yentob, who also stresses the important role the north west plays in its future plans.

But what is in it for the man in the street? The average viewer who pays his TV licence does not really see the need for, nor, if he is honest, does he understand the need for digital television.

Yentob says he fully understands the "reluctance" of some to switch to digital -- even though we probably will not have a choice come 2010.

"Take the children's channels," he says. "There is huge potential for development in this area.

"In three years time, I believe 75 per cent of families with young children will have digital television.

"These are the youngsters who perhaps watch an hour and half of children's BBC TV now and then switch to either Nickleodian, Disney or Cartoon Network channels.

"If the BBC does not keep the pace with a channel that is tailor-made for children, we will lose those viewers and cease to become the forward thinking company we have always been."

However, is the temptation to plump for quantity over quality too great? We only need to look at American TV to see that numerous channels do not necessarily equal better TV.

"Absolutely not," says Yentob. "We will certainly not take a 'dumbing down' approach.

"Yes, digital TV offers room for many more channels than analogue TV, but it also provides an enhanced text service and lends itself to interactive educational and sporting services.

"Can you imagine an interactive Wimbledon? And if anyone has been watching the recent Walking With Beasts -- to watch that on digital is a truly amazing experience."

Talking about the children's channels -- he has overall responsibility for the two -- Yentob proudly announces that these are "free from advertising".

"They are also designed for two age ranges, pre school and the six to 13 year olds," he said.

"The pre school channels will continue with the tried and tested -- Teletubbies and Tweenies for example, while there will also be some fantastic new education animations.

"There is huge potential for these channels to become part of every child's growing up."

And it seems they will get to watch them when they want, not when the TV bosses think they should.

But is that a recipe for even more couch potato kids?

"No," says Yentob, "because digital will take advantage of interactive TV -- using email, interactive websites -- and give the kids the chance to become really involved in the programme."

So the TV bosses tell us digital is the thing of the future. The Government are telling us that, by the end of 2003, 67 per cent of us will have switched.

The rest is up to you.

Or is it?

PANELS What's the

difference? Q: What is the difference between having a digital box on top of your TV set and a digital TV?

A: All TV sets need a decoder to decode the signal to watch the programmes on your television. Sets without an inbuilt decoder need a box to do this. Sets with an inbuilt one do not. Simple isn't it? What is

digital? DIGITAL television and radio use new transmission systems and computer technology instead of traditional analogue signals.

Analogue directly represents the original sound and pictures, digital radio and TV signals are converted into computerised digits which are received as normal bu aerial, satellite dish or cable.

They are then converted back to sound and pictures using decoders or set top boxes (see above).

Basically, digital allows more channels to be transmitted and also boasts better sound and picture quality.