BOSSES will today switch on the new interim mast on the Bilsdale site, bringing improved television signal to 100,000 homes.

But as a result of the switch on, approximately 1,250 homes will fall into what Arqiva are calling a “shadow area” where they will lose their services.

Chief executive Paul Donovan yesterday assured The Northern Echo that work to assist those residents was “going very well.”

The Northern Echo:

Read more: New Bilsdale mast to go live tomorrow - and you might be asked to retune your TV

Mr Donovan also stressed that affected residents had been contacted and should be aware of the planned switch on and what they need to do to restore services.

This is what people are being asked to do if they notice a change in reception after the switch on today.

Retuning your TV

Arqiva have firstly suggested that you retune your TV which, on most televisions, can be done simply by pressing OK or retune when prompted.

The Northern Echo:

If this doesn’t happen or your TV does not automatically retune, Arqiva suggest you use these retuning instructions:

  • First press menu on your box or TV remote control
  • Select set up, installation, update, or a similar option. If you’re asked for a password, the default code is 1234 or 0000.
  • Select first-time installation (sometimes called factory reset, full retune or default settings).
  • Press OK if your equipment asks if it's OK to delete existing channels, then your retune should start automatically.
  • If prompted, save the channels that are found.

There are further instructions found here

If after a retune you are still missing channels, then Arqiva have encouraged people to call their freephone helpline on 08000 121 4828.

For those who fall in the shadow area of 1,250 homes, they will lose their freeview services completely and have been asked to contact Arqiva on their freephone hotline.

Read more: Weather warning currently in place in the North East - here's how long it will last

After this Arqiva assured that they will send out an engineer to repoint your ariel free of charge.

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