Major UK union says government should postpone analogue switch-off

British trade union GMB says its members in parts of Britain who purchased terrestrial digital TV via the Freeview digital box are complaining about the strength, quality and reliability of the signal they receive.

The signal is often very weak. Some have spent up to £250 replacing their TV aerials but without an improvement in the quality or reliability of the terrestrial digital TV signal. Some have reported to GMB that they have gone back to the analogue signal and plan to stay with it until the quality and reliability of the digital signal is improved. Others have opted for satellite or cable systems, obviously at greater cost.

GMB members have now asked the union to intervene to persuade the government to downgrade the 2008 'plan' to switch over from analogue to digital signal into an aspiration instead. GMB members are calling on the Government to ensure that the switch over only happens when there is an adequate digital signal. The GMB has received reports to date from members in London, East Anglia, North Wales, Southern Home Counties, parts of the Midlands and North Yorkshire covering about one third of the country.

Paul Kenny, GMB Acting General Secretary said,"The Freeview terrestrial digital TV service has been a great success in enabling many households to get multichannel TV. In addition to the analogue signal it has provided genuine choice. However, many GMB member families who have bought into the Freeview terrestrial digital TV signal are completely dissatisfied with the strength, quality and reliability of the signal they currently receive. People who are actually experiencing difficulties with the signal are being told that the reception in their area is perfect. This is giving rise to credibility problems.

Unless and until there is a drastic improvement in the signal's quality and reliability, there can be no question of turning off the analogue signal. We want the Government to downgrade the 2008 'plan' for a switch over to an aspiration until such time that the technical problems encountered by our members across the country have be solved. There should be a lot more pilot projects before any concrete plans are made."

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