Pace Micro Technology has unveiled a new gadget which could revolutionise the way cable TV is watched.

The Saltaire-based company's French division, Xcom Communications, has produced a low-cost Digital Television Adapter (DTVA) which enables analogue televisions to receive digital services.

The device was demonstrated 'live' for the first time in London at Mediacast 2001, a cable and satellite industry exhibition.

Designed to widen the reach of digital services worldwide, the DTVA will be able to broadcast the free digital channels which usually come with cable or satellite packages, into 'non-pay TV' homes.

It will also allow households with one paid-for digital access TV to share its services with other TVs.

A Pace spokesman said: "It's been designed to enable you to watch free-to-air programming without having to sign up to any pay-to-watch channels.

"You just plug it in and you get your free programmes in digital TV quality."

The DTVA's capabilities, combined with what Pace describes as its "economic" manufacturing costs, mean it could speed up many countries, including the UK's, planned switch from analogue to digital TV.

Britain intends to make the change, which would mean everyone having to 'go digital' to receive the normal five channels, by 2006, with France, Spain and Sweden aiming for a 2010 deadline.

But Pace says its adapter could save people the cost of changing their TVs.

"This is a solution for people who don't want pay-for-TV. If in the future the Government does switch off the analogue signals, this will allow you to still watch the normal channels without having to get a set-top box or satellite dish."

Aimed initially at low income, Far Eastern countries, Xcom has already conducted successful trials of the DTVA in Taiwan and Hong-Kong.

Pace say the new technology could be launched in the UK as early as next year.