KINTYRE is facing a digital disappointment with the switch from terrestrial to digital television.
Many parts of the UK will have up to 50 channels on the basic digital TV service but unless people living in Kintyre, Islay, Jura and Mid Argyll dig into their pockets to buy satellite services they will have the basic 18. Even then reception will vary enormously.
The switch comes between April and June 2011 with relay transmitters in the area receiving the digital signal from the Darvel transmitter in Ayrshire.
Only Southend, which will receive its signal directly from Darvel will have up to 30 channels; though reception might be poor.
A spokesman for Digital UK, which is in charge of the switch over said that the number of channels that can be broadcast from relay transmitters is restricted by the limited availably of airwaves and the ‘very significant cost of upgrading local transmitters’.
Alan Reid MP for Argyll and Bute said: ‘Westminster is making huge profits from selling off the airwaves being made available by switching from analogue to digital television and the government should devote some small part of the money raised to ensure that people in my constituency and elsewhere receive the same television service as the rest of the country.’
