TV blackspot converts to digital

The Montpellier broadcast tower, established to cover a Barwon River Valley television blackspot, will convert to digital from mid-July.

Kildare ward’s Cr Stretch Kontelj said residents using the blackspot transmission service may have to upgrade their antennas.

The Montpellier retransmission service started about 10 years ago to address a television signal blackspot in the Newtown and Highton.

“As part of the Federal Government’s nationwide plan to switch analogue TV signals to digital, the transmission service from Montpellier will also be converted to a digital only service,” Cr Kontelj said.

“The Digital Switchover Taskforce expects the new digital signal will be much stronger than the existing analogue signal at Montpellier.

“However residents will almost certainly need to adjust, or even replace, their antenna.

“The Digital Switchover Taskforce website contains advice on antenna tuning and a list of approved antenna technicians.

“The Digital Switchover Taskforce is in place to assist with inquiries and have established a website tool to help people discover the specific arrangements for their location.

“The best advice we can give people is to use the ‘My Switch’ tool on the Digital Switchover Taskforce website at digitalready.gov.au.”

Cr Kontelj said the conversion date is subject to change depending on the technical aspects of the installation.