Ireland's Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources Pat Rabbitte, TD
With only one week to go until Ireland’s analogue TV signal is switched off for good, there are still people who seem to think the switch to digital will not happen, said Ireland’s Minister for Communications, Energy and Natural Resources Pat Rabbitte, TD.
In a final push to TV viewers in Ireland who are still on the analogue signal, Rabbitte is urging them to make the switch to digital TV before the analogue signal is turned off on 24 October.
Digital switchover help
- Guidance on the digital switchover is available online, through LoCall 1890 940 980 (English language) and 1890 940 970 (Irish language).
“Our latest research indicates that by end of September approximately 100,000 households still had to make the switch to digital TV,” Rabbitte said.
“We’re also still encountering people who seem to think the switchover will not happen. This switchover will happen in a week’s time and there will be blank screens for those people who have not made the switch,” added Rabbitte, who spoke from the oldest TV transmission mast in Ireland in Kippure, Co Wicklow.
“I’m standing at Kippure mast which is the oldest transmission mast in the State and it is fully digital. The digital system is already operational right across the country and I encourage people to make the switch now and to help others that may need assistance with the switch.”
TV viewers who can see ‘X 24 October’ in the corner of their TV screens are using the analogue TV system and need to switch to digital before next Wednesday.
These viewers have two options, depending on the range of services or channels they require. They can get Saorview by purchasing a set-top box or a Saorview-approved TV set, or they can go to a Pay TV provider, such as Sky or UPC.
