"Wrights Still Offering Right Option On TV Reception" - Öpik

9.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Wed 28th Jun 2006

Lembit Öpik, MP for Montgomeryshire and Leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats, has written to Digital UK to complain that their incorrect information leaflets have caused serious problems for local TV signal provider Wrights Radio Relay.

The leaflets put out by Digital UK indicate that there will be no analogue service in Newtown after the Switchover in 2009. But Wrights Radio will continue to provide an analogue service in Newtown beyond the Switchover.

Commenting today, Lembit said:

"The leaflets being put out to publicise the switch to Digital Television say that everyone is going to have to move across to a new system, and that that the old way of getting your signal won't work after a certain time. In Newtown, this couldn't be more wrong!

"Wrights Radio have been sending a quality television signal through a dedicated system to Newtown residents for years. They will still be able to continue providing this service, even after digital switchover. Far from being obsolete, they can actually prevent you from having to change your TV equipment. In effect they'll do the switchover for you, with no interruption to your service, and no need for an engineer.

"I'm angry that professionally produced leaflets by Digital UK ignore this fact. I'm writing to the authorities to insist they correct this, and stop spreading information which has actually harmed the business interests for Wrights Radio, as well as the viewing arrangements which have worked well in Newtown till now, and can carry on doing so for decades to come."