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Digital switch transmits problem | Digital switch transmits problem |
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Television viewers in north-west England are still struggling to get local stations after the digital switchover earlier this month. | Television viewers in north-west England are still struggling to get local stations after the digital switchover earlier this month. |
The BBC has received complaints from viewers who received Welsh TV instead of their usual regional channels. | The BBC has received complaints from viewers who received Welsh TV instead of their usual regional channels. |
Digital UK said 7.2 million viewers had switched over in that area and about 6,000 contacted their advice line about "overlapping signals". | Digital UK said 7.2 million viewers had switched over in that area and about 6,000 contacted their advice line about "overlapping signals". |
Analogue TV will be switched off across the UK by 2012. | Analogue TV will be switched off across the UK by 2012. |
The North West is the biggest region to lose its analogue signal so far. Homes have been affected across the Granada TV area in Cheshire, Lancashire, Greater Manchester and Merseyside. | The North West is the biggest region to lose its analogue signal so far. Homes have been affected across the Granada TV area in Cheshire, Lancashire, Greater Manchester and Merseyside. |
Eric Southworth, from Fleetwood in Lancashire, said: "I have been getting BBC Wales, ITV Wales and Channel Four Wales [S4C]. | Eric Southworth, from Fleetwood in Lancashire, said: "I have been getting BBC Wales, ITV Wales and Channel Four Wales [S4C]. |
"I don't understand Welsh." | "I don't understand Welsh." |
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Eric Southworth has to go through a complex process to tune his television to the correct region. | |
The BBC's North of England correspondent, Nick Ravenscroft, who has been investigating the problem, said the newly-boosted digital TV signal was so strong, Mr Southworth's TV set had been picking up services from a transmitter near Wrexham. | The BBC's North of England correspondent, Nick Ravenscroft, who has been investigating the problem, said the newly-boosted digital TV signal was so strong, Mr Southworth's TV set had been picking up services from a transmitter near Wrexham. |
"When televisions scan the frequencies they start from the lowest and work upwards. The signal bringing Welsh TV from Wrexham is at a lower frequency than the transmitter for north-west England, which is near Bolton," our correspondent explained. | "When televisions scan the frequencies they start from the lowest and work upwards. The signal bringing Welsh TV from Wrexham is at a lower frequency than the transmitter for north-west England, which is near Bolton," our correspondent explained. |
"So, the Welsh services are assigned to the first channels. The North West services are typically on channels in the 800s." | "So, the Welsh services are assigned to the first channels. The North West services are typically on channels in the 800s." |
He said viewers had been complaining about the problem and the lack of solutions from the official helpline. | He said viewers had been complaining about the problem and the lack of solutions from the official helpline. |
"The minority is vocal," he added. "But judging by their e-mails, intensely annoyed, not least because many have spent money upgrading their equipment or aerial in preparation for the switchover." | "The minority is vocal," he added. "But judging by their e-mails, intensely annoyed, not least because many have spent money upgrading their equipment or aerial in preparation for the switchover." |
Similar problems occurred in the West Country when that area switched over earlier this year. | Similar problems occurred in the West Country when that area switched over earlier this year. |
'Overlapping signals' | 'Overlapping signals' |
Simon Crine, from Digital UK, the company leading the UK's switchover to digital TV, said he understood the problems had caused "angst and irritation". | Simon Crine, from Digital UK, the company leading the UK's switchover to digital TV, said he understood the problems had caused "angst and irritation". |
He said viewers could get help re-tuning their TV sets via the Digital UK helpline. | He said viewers could get help re-tuning their TV sets via the Digital UK helpline. |
"We took an enormous number of calls on the days of switchovers and in Granada, the north-west region, nine out of 10 people went away happy," he said. | "We took an enormous number of calls on the days of switchovers and in Granada, the north-west region, nine out of 10 people went away happy," he said. |
"One in 10 reported overlapping signals from Wales and we tried to help those people through that process," he said. | "One in 10 reported overlapping signals from Wales and we tried to help those people through that process," he said. |
The switchover started in 2007 and will continue until 2012. Analogue channels will be switched off region by region and replaced with free-to-air digital TV and radio services (Freeview). | The switchover started in 2007 and will continue until 2012. Analogue channels will be switched off region by region and replaced with free-to-air digital TV and radio services (Freeview). |
Switchover has already been completed in the Granada TV region and parts of east and central Wales. It will be rolled out to the other regions of England and Wales - as well as Scotland and Northern Ireland - between now and 2012. | Switchover has already been completed in the Granada TV region and parts of east and central Wales. It will be rolled out to the other regions of England and Wales - as well as Scotland and Northern Ireland - between now and 2012. |
Anyone in need of assistance with the digital switchover should contact the Digital UK helpline on 08456 505050. | Anyone in need of assistance with the digital switchover should contact the Digital UK helpline on 08456 505050. |
There is also a dedicated phone number for disabled people and those aged 75 and over who need assistance - the BBC Switchover Help Scheme on 0800 408 7654. | There is also a dedicated phone number for disabled people and those aged 75 and over who need assistance - the BBC Switchover Help Scheme on 0800 408 7654. |