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by Eamonn MacDermott, Inishowen Independent
A GROUP of Clonmany residents have joined local TDs
Charlie McConalogue and Pádraig MacLochlainn to
campaign on behalf of those who cannot get the new
Saorview digital television service.
With plans to switch off the analogue service for
television viewers being announced for October 24,
2012, residents in Clonmany said that they can
hardly get RTE as it is and definitely will not get
Saorview. An RTÉ transmitter in Clonmany is one of
just two such transmitters in Donegal that will not
be upgraded to deliver a digital signal.
A spokesman on behalf of the group, Sean Cooke,
said: “We have come together to try and lobby RTE to
get some sort of service to here in Clonmany.
“We have requested a meeting with RTE to discuss the
fact that we cannot get a good reception on RTE as
it stands and can’t get Saorview at all.
“The reply we received was most unsatisfactory and
they said if we wanted a meeting it would be well
into next year before it could happen.
“This is not leaving much time for us to try and get
the problems sorted if analogue services are being
switched off next October.
“On top of that we have been told that Saorview will
be available by December next year but again what
happens in October? Do we sit with nothing on our
screens for a couple of months?”
One person who installs digital TV receivers,
including Saorview boxes, confirmed that there are
black spots in Inishowen.
Charlie McDevitt said: “You can get the service in
Clonmany but it is extremely difficult.
“You need to install boosters and the like to
eventually get a service.
“It really is a lot of bother. In other parts of the
county the service is excellent with no problem but
not around Clonmany.
“It seems that the problem is the hills around
Clonmany and they block out the signal.”
Parts of the Illies are also listed on the Saorview
website as being without the service.
Meanwhile, Deputy McConalogue has expressed his
concerns.
“There are 250,000 households who currently rely on
aerials for their television reception,” he said.
“However, RTE have confirmed that there is still 2%
of the population which is not covered by either
analogue or digital terrestrial services.
“I find it unacceptable that the Minister would make
an announcement on the date that analogue services
will be switched off without first making sure that
everyone would have an alternative service available
to them.” |
