TV Reception
Posted by Laura Sandys, MP for South Thanet, at 16:07, Mon 19 August 2013:
Thanet has for too long suffered from notoriously bad television reception. In the run-up to digital switchover, I campaigned hard at every level to secure us additional support. I took our TV signal woes to the very top, meeting with ministers and even raising it in the House of Commons.
I received multiple assurances that our TV reception would significantly improve come switchover but I committed to monitor this to ensure that things really did get better. Unfortunately there are still local residents experiencing problems and I believe that the current situation remains totally unsatisfactory.
I believe that there is a fundamental flaw in the TV licensing system when we all pay our licences but do not all have a right to receive a signal all of the time.
If you've had issues with your signal over the last few weeks, I am told that the fine weather is probably to blame. Is it only me that finds this absolutely absurd? Why should we not have a TV system that is reliable almost all of the time- come rain or shine?
I am angry and disappointed that we are still experiencing problems here with TV reception and over the summer I've been taking our issues up with the people who can resolve them. We met with the BBC a fortnight ago and I am returning to the Minister to request his assistance. Following our representations, the regulator Ofcom are now reviewing our specific issues again and Sir Roger and I will be meeting with them before the month is out.
A solution must be found to resolve the problems that we are seeing. Everyone who pays their licence should be entitled to receive a decent TV signal and I'm actively taking this forward for local residents in order to find us a real solution once and for all.
- Laura's View- Thanet Extra- 14th August 2013
Comments
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Posted by Robin G Howard, 20:12, Mon 19 August 2013: (Is this post abusive?) #
Indeed a clear sky means total disruption whilst nearly all the time channels 31,30,10 disrupt continuously with a weak signal. It is what I call the Norman Collier channel syndrome(A comedian who used to pretend his microphone was intermittent.)I am sure that the advertisers do not realise that a great many of us in Thanet cannot see their adverts yet are paying for them. I am in a new flat 4 years old with an amplified TV signal.
Posted by Adrian Barnett, 19:28, Wed 28 August 2013: (Is this post abusive?) #
We have have given up on terrestrial television and use Freesat instead. But anything for those who cannot use satellite TV has to be good
Posted by John McConnell, 13:56, Mon 2 September 2013: (Is this post abusive?) #
I totally agree Laura. I am also fed up being illegally taxed by the BBC especially when Ed Vasey had the cheek to say "it's not a god given right to receive the BBC!".
Of course he unlike us does not live in Thanet, we may as well be on our own Planet for receiving TV signals.
in fact I have been told that the service has degraded since we went digital, NOT improved. This possibly being to the lower signal emitted from Dover, so as not to offend out Euro companions.
I know you cannot move Invicta House which has the transmitter for this area. Maybe add one to Tesco's in Northdown road, as all the north side of Northdown suffer this problem.
Or maybe return my extortinate License fee and let the BBC and it's overpaid management work for a living as the independant companies have to