Digital TV date for region

Newtown should be able to receive digital TV early next year. Wrights Radio Relay, Newtown's cable television supplier, today announced it had successfully added the signals needed.

Wrights hopes to be in a position to make them available to customers by early 2007.

Alistair Tyne, of Wrights, said: "In order to use the new digital service you will need to have either a digital-ready TV or a Freeview set top box and a special converter.

"The new digital service will cost the same as our existing analogue service and will provide the same line up of channels that are available on the Freeview service in other areas of the country."

Mr Tyne said Newtown viewers, unlike those in the rest of Mid Wales, would not have to switch to digital, but it was being offered as an additional option for people who wanted a greater choice of channels.

"We are also committed to providing our current analogue service for those that wish to use it beyond the government switchover date in 2010," he said.

Mr Tyne said the company was concerned that across the UK people were being badly advised and still buying TV sets that would soon be obsolete.

"We would urge anyone buying a new television to ensure it has a digital tuner and carries the digital tick logo," he said.

"Wrights has recently achieved Approved Digital Advisor status from Digital UK for being able to offer impartial advice to consumers confused by the introduction of digital TV," he said.

More information is available by contacting Wrights in Parkers Lane, Newtown, or via the company's website at www.wrightsradiorelay.co.uk