The only people on the Islands able to pick up digital signals are those with Sky Digital. Several people have not bought digital technologies because they are too expensive, or have been waiting to upgrade their service to DTT, Digital Terrestrial Television.
However, after contacting the ITC, Independent Television Commission, they have no plans in the near future to upgrade out-of-the-way places.
“Unlike the network of around 1200 analogue transmitters, which reach virtually everyone in the UK, coverage of digital terrestrial signals is more restricted,” explains Paul White of the ITC. “Digital signals at present only come from only 80 transmitters, and reach 70-80% of the population.”
He continues: “The primary reason for this restriction is a shortage of available transmission frequencies. Both analogue and digital signals must share the same frequency bands, which are already predominantly occupied by existing analogue signals.”
He explains that if digital and analogue frequencies were too similar then there would be ?unacceptable interferance? and therefore “most experts agree that it will not be possible to match the coverage of analogue TV by digital terrestrial means until at least the time that the analogue signal is switched off.”
Sky Digital and Free-for-view satellite channels can be obtained in the Islands.
“When the government said that they expected that it would be possible to turn off the analogue service between 2006-2010, they stated that virtually no one should lose access to at least the four or five channels they currently have. They did not however say that the replacement digital channels need necessarily be delivered by terrestrial means. It is possible therefore that satellite, cable and other emerging broadcasting technologies will have to play a part in ensuring digital television is accessible to all.”
So, if you want to ensure that you have television when the analogue signal is switched off, then get a satellite.