250,000 TV screens go blank...

[Sweetpea]

Up to 250,000 TV screens go blank after upgrade leaves Freeview boxes 'obsolete'

Almost a quarter of a million televisions across Britain have gone blank after a Freeview signal upgrade left some digital equipment obsolete.
Set-top boxes across the country stopped working after the network was upgraded to increase the number of channels available from 30 to 48.

Hundreds of thousands of older boxes could not cope with the extra information and broke down.


'Some early-manufactured digital boxes will stop working and viewers will need to replace their equipment to continue receiving the Freeview service,' a brief release on the company's website stated.
Freeview is managed by DTV Services Ltd, a company owned and run by its five shareholders - BBC, BSkyB Channel 4, ITV and National Grid Wireless.
About one per cent of Freeview equipment sold, around 230,000 boxes, has been hit. Freeview spokeswoman Laura Imregi claimed there had been advance warning in local media about the changes.

But furious viewers, including some who had spent more than £100 on the equipment a few years ago, have left angry messages on internet message boards.

Janet Richardson wrote: 'I am angry about the lack of publicity and consultation about this change which affects so many people.'


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Anybody affected by this? What a hideously callous move.

[poppy]

I am happ to say not, i dont have freeview. I would be livid if I did though.

[Haqa]

I only wish I could get freeview, but I can barely get analogue... there isn't due to be digital in my area till 2010 (At the earliest)...

H.

[Sweetpea]

We had it, very high digital aerial out here in the Fens. Wasn't perfect. Very susceptible to weather conditions.

We now have Sky and I LOVE IT!!!!

[Bruv]

Wait til it rains hard..............

[Sweetpea]

What do you mean, till?

Have you been hibernating this summer Bruv?

[Bruv]

Originally Posted by Sweetpea

What do you mean, till?

Have you been hibernating this summer Bruv?

Since your Sky installation ?

[Sweetpea]

We have had it a couple of months and have lost the signal once, yet it has rained almost continually since.

[Haqa]

You are VERY lucky then... Heavy rain (especially thunder storms) put out sky like a cat...

H.

[Churchill]

Most modern tellies have em built in now anyway. Only the poor bugger who bought his from Dixons for £20.00 will be affected.