Digital switchover causes TV problems in Oxfordshire

A reserve aerial is being used while work is being carried out

An apology has been given to viewers in Oxfordshire who have been experiencing problems with their TV reception.

Digital UK said it was carrying out maintenance on the television mast at Beckley in preparation for digital switchover, due in 2011.

The BBC has received many enquiries from viewers, some who have bought new equipment after suffering signal loss.

Digital UK said the work was essential, and hoped it would be complete by the beginning of April.

Channels worst affected include ITV 1 and 2, Channel 4, E4 and five.

'Short-term work'

Some viewers have complained that they were not told about the transmitter work.

Philip Brogden spent more than £100 trying to fix reception problems.

He said: "They should have informed us in the first place. Otherwise I would not have spent a whole load of money on pieces to make my TV work."

A reserve aerial has been fitted half way down the Beckley mast so that the old aerial can be lifted off by helicopter.

Peter Monteith, from Digital UK, said: "This is relatively short-term work and we will be finished, weather permitting, by the beginning of April.

"We do not underestimate in any way how irritating this is, and we do apologise."

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