Today marks one year since the fire at Bilsdale mast, leaving thousands without TV and without radio – let’s see how events have unfolded since the incident.

Arqiva revealed today that they are “gunning” for a 2023 release date in a media briefing held at the site of the Bilsdale mast.

In August 10, 2021, hundreds of thousands were left without signal following a fire at the mast.

Since then Arqiva have been working to restore services to people across the North East and are now in the process of building a permanent 300-metre mast.

Here’s how events have unfolded since the fire:

August 10  - Bilsdale TV mast on fire in North Yorkshire Moors

On this day the TV mast caught fire rendering the structure out of service and leaving up to a million without TV and Radio signal.

Read more: Northallerton Tesco fire LIVE: Fire breaks out in cark park

North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service said six appliances had been sent to tackle the blaze and firefighters said the fire included the tower itself.

August 11 – Fire extinguished but many still left without TV and radio signal

The fire was extinguished the next day on August 11 as the North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service worked with site operators to “bring the incident to a safe conclusion.”

August 12 – Teesside homes receive signal as services come back online

Homes across Teesside were reportedly receiving reception after some services came back online through the Eston Nab transmitter.

Viewers in Hartlepool, Redcar, and East Middlesbrough could now receive some services.

August 13 – Site operators move onto Phase two of plan to restore services

Site operators Arqiva announced that they were now moving onto phase 2 of their plan to restore services to the North East and North Yorkshire by erecting of an 80m temporary mast at the Bilsdale site.

However, due to the site of Special Scientific Interest, the work legal process and construction of the mast would take up to two weeks and was set to be completed on August 28.

August 17 – Some viewers saw a significant improvement after two new developments

After the installation of a new 15m mast at a site in Arncliffe Wood and improvements to coverage from Eston Nab, many more viewers were able to receive signal.

Some viewers in Darlington, Stockton, Catterick, Leyburn, Masham and Ripon were now able to receive signal.

Work continued on the temporary mast set to be built on the Bilsdale and site operators said they still “anticipated the temporary mast to be effective by August 28.”

August 19 – Planned power increase brings coverage to 250,000

Site operators Arqiva provided a further update, reportedly claiming that a “planned power increase” at their Eston Nab site that morning had brought more services to 250,000 households in total.

Arqiva also said that work to install additional equipment at Arncliffe Wood to further extend coverage was also in progress and was expected to be completed by that weekend.

August 20 – New Arncliffe Wood transmitter completed bringing signal to 200,000

Site operators completed another 15m mast at Arncliffe Wood, providing around 200,000 households with coverage for TV.

Another relay at Skinningrove was also restored on this day, providing more channels and further was expected to be completed early the next week and will provide these same households with BBC channels and HD variants.

August 24 – Delay for proposed mast on Bilsdale site

Arqiva announced, that despite doing “everything in its power to restore broadcast services as quickly and safely as possible, the legal process behind the building of the mast was “taking longer than anticipated” and was delayed.

August 26 – More receive signal as more transmitters are turned on

In an update provided by BBC, more temporary masts were switched on allowing more areas to receive signal across the North East and North Yorkshire.

Temporary transmitters at Arncliffe Wood were switched on allowing some people in Darlington, Barnard Castle, Richmond, Leyburn, Catterick, Masham and Ripon to receive signal if people re-tune their TV.

According to the BBC, another four more relays were also brought back online bringing services to Skinningrove, West Burton, Aysgarth , Redmire, Fylingthrope and Sleights.

August 27 – BBC agree to refund licence fees after pressure from The Northern Echo

Thousands of people were put in line for a refund after the BBC bowed to pressure from The Northern Echo to help those worst affected by the Bilsdale mast.

AD

Many people were in line for a partial refund or extension to their TV licence if they had been left without TV for more than a month and did not have access to BBC iPlayer.

Although the climb down was a welcome one, it did not extend to all those affected and The Northern Echo continued to pressure the BBC to issue full TV licence fee refunds.

September 2 – Pressure mounted on the BBC to issue full licence fee refunds

The Northern Echo’s fight for a fairer deal for ALL those affected by the fire at the Bilsdale transmitter was gathering pace, after it won the backing of a number of political heavyweights across the region.

The politicians were also joined by the chief executive of Age UK in North Yorkshire and Darlington, further increasing pressure on the BBC.

September 6 – Alex Cunningham called for a full Ofcom enquiry into Arqiva

Alex Cunningham announced that he had called for a “full inquiry” into, what he had called, the “wholly inadequate” response from site operator Arqiva after the ongoing issues at Bilsdale Transmitter.

Stockton North MP Alex Cunningham had written to Ofcom Chief Executive Dame Melanie Dawes highlighting his concerns about a lack of plan from Arqiva.

September 8 – TV signal was to return in three weeks

In a media briefing held at Bilsdale TV mast by site operators Arqiva it was announced that the construction of the new temporary mast, set to restore signal to 90 per cent of residents at the time, would be completed in three weeks.

Chief executive Arqiva, Paul Donovan, had said that permission to build the new temporary mast was just “days away” and it would complete construction 21 days after permission for the site had been secured.

September 10 – Arqiva boss apologises “unreservedly” to people affected

Writing exclusively, Arqiva’s chief executive issued a frank apology in that day’s edition of The Northern Echo.

September 14 – Arqiva begins construction of new temporary mast

Arqiva said a team of around 100 people began construction work at Bilsdale the day before with materials being transported into place and ground preparations beginning.

September 19 – Claims made that Arqiva’s axing of experienced staff delayed mast

Insiders said the workers that remain have “very little knowledge” of how to deal with such an incident, which they claim has contributed to delays in people’s TV signal returning.

Although they confirmed a restructure took place last year, Arqiva had strongly denied the claims, adding they have “highly skilled and experienced staff who are working around the clock to restore services to people across the region”.

September 20 – The temporary mast was set to be completed by October 5

Arqiva had begun lifting materials on to the Bilsdale site by helicopter as part of urgent work to build the new 80m-high temporary mast.

September 30 – Arqiva vow to do “whatever it takes” in exclusive talks with The Northern Echo

In an exclusive interview with The Northern Echo, chief executive of Arqiva, Paul Donovan, said that plans were in place to reduce the number of households affected by the disruption down to 10,000 at the least.

October 1 – New mast to be delayed for over a week and new Arqiva offices

The switch on of the new temporary 80-metre mast was to be delayed for over a week it was announced.

Arqiva said high winds, low cloud and heavy rain in recent days had forced a delay to the proposed switch on date and the site operators then aimed to switch the mast on between October 13 and 19.

It was also announced exclusively on this day that Arqiva revealed their plans to move into new offices based in Stockton in coming weeks.

October 4 – Arqiva reveal map of areas still without signal after mast switch on

In a media briefing, chief executive Paul Donovan, revealed a detailed map estimating which areas could still be without signal after the temporary 80-metre mast was switched on.

In the same briefing that day it was also hinted that another temporary mast might have to be built during the winter as the 80-metre temporary mast may not survive the harsh weather.

October 6 – Old Bilsdale mast demolished as work continued on the new temporary mast

Site operators confirmed that the 314 metre Bilsdale mast had been felled in a controlled demolition earlier that day.

Following comprehensive investigations on the mast, the 500-tonne structure was considered beyond repair by the infrastructure company.

Arqiva said the structure was brought down as a result by a specialist team using controlled detonations.

October 11 – Freeview warn of signal disruption as power testing takes place

A spokesperson for the BBC had said the disruption, which took place Tuesday October 12, was to allow Arqiva to perform power testing in readiness for the new temporary mast coming into operation.

A spokesperson for Freeview had said that thanks to “good weather conditions and a promising forecast for tomorrow” the switch on will go ahead for October 13.

October 18 – Arqiva announce £50 voucher to purchase streaming sticks

THOSE still without TV signal will now be able to purchase a TV streaming device using a £50 voucher through Arqiva’s new scheme.

To get more stories from the North East direct to your email basket go here

The scheme is the latest step in Project Restore, which is designed to help those affected by the fire at Bilsdale TV mast on August 10.

We issued advice on which streaming stick to purchase with the voucher

October 25 – Planning consent granted for Station Tower at Bilsdale, 80m in height.

October 30 – 31 - Temporary transmitters covering Thirsk and Loftus went into service.

November 23 – Further power increase at Eston Nab.

November 29 – Two new TV temporary transmitters are switched on to improve or restore TV services in and around Bainbridge and Kirkbymoorside.

December 3 – Temporary transmitters serving Ripon and Castleton came on-air.

December 14 – The Masham temporary transmitter goes live.

December 21 – Temporary transmitter serving Leyburn came on-air.

December 23 – The Helmsley temporary transmitter goes live.

End of 2021 – PSB services predicted to be available to 98.4% of households formerly served by Bilsdale. The figure rises to 99.4% if households also get their aerials pointed at the most appropriate temporary transmitter.

January 14 – Temporary transmitters are brought on at Seaham & Sunderland.

February 23 – Station Tower at Bilsdale comes on air, Quarry mast switched off.

March 8 – The Northallerton temporary transmitter goes live.

End-March 2022 - PSB services are predicted to be available to 98.7% of households formerly served by Bilsdale. The figure rises to 99.9% if households also get their aerials pointed at the most appropriate temporary transmitter.

May 13 – Arqiva reveal Severfield plc will be awarded the contract to construct a new 300-metre permanent mast.

May 20 - Arqiva confirms the fire was caused by water entering a component of third-party equipment on the mast.

June 13 – it is revealed by Ofcom that Arqiva spent £40m to restore services across the North East and that they must learn lessons from the incident.

August 10 2022 – Arqiva reveal spring 2023 completion date for new permanent mast.

---
Read next: 

If you want to read more great stories, why not subscribe to your Northern Echo for as little as £1.25 a week. Click here