Support for residents affected by TV interference
RESIDENTS in Mexborough are being encouraged to access free support should they be impacted by TV interference due to mobile signal upgrades taking place in the town.
Mobile networks are being improved to “boost the speed, performance and coverage of mobile services in the area” - but organisers say there is a “small chance” that these upgrades may cause interference – such as intermittent sound, blocky images (pixelation) or loss of TV signal - to services received through an aerial such as Freeview, BT, TalkTalk and YouView.
For residents affected by the upgrades, free support is available from Restore TV, an independent programme created by Mova Digital Mobile Spectrum Limited, an organisation owned by the UK’s mobile network operators: EE, Virgin Media O2, and VodafoneThree.
Restore TV reports to the Coexistence Technical Working Group, chaired by Ofcom and has a role to “ensure people can continue to enjoy free to view TV if mobile service upgrades cause TV interference.”
The programme offers additional support for people who are 75 years of age or older, are registered blind or partially sighted or receive any of the following benefits – personal independence payments (PIPs), attendance allowance, constant attendance allowance or War Pensioner’s Mobility Support.
Ben Roome, CEO of Restore TV, said: “We can send a Restore TV filter, free of charge, for you to fit between your aerial lead and TV or set-top box to remove mobile signals and allow you to watch free to view TV as normal.
“Full instructions are included, and we can provide further advice online and by phone if needed.
“In most instances, fitting the filter will resolve any issues, but if this isn’t the case, we may also be able to arrange a follow-up visit from a Restore TV engineer at no cost, depending on eligibility.”
Cable and satellite TV, such as Sky or Virgin, are not affected.
However, viewers with these services, who also watch free to view TV through an aerial, can receive a free Restore TV filter.
Any viewers who experience new interference to free to view TV should contact Restore TV on 0808 13 13 800 (free from landlines and mobiles) or visit www.restoretv.uk/.