Monday 28 May 2007

Freeview (or lack of) in the West End

The Courier has this morning featured an article about my letter to the Under-Secretary of State for Media and Tourism, Shaun Woodward MP, regarding the continued lack of Freeview services for many people in the West End - and in other parts of Dundee.
If you click on the headline above you can read the full story on the Dundee LibDem website. He's my e-mail to Mr Woodward :
Dear Mr Woodward

I write to express concerns about the lack of Freeview TV services for many of my constituents in the West End of Dundee, a situation also affecting other parts of the City and North Fife, served by the Tay Bridge Transmitter.

Around 35 000 people in Dundee and NE Fife are served by the transmitter which continues to carry only analogue signals and are being denied access to digital terrestrial television until the “analogue switch off” in the NE Scotland area in 2010.

I would be grateful if you could advise if there is any possibility of the relay transmitters that serve the larger population numbers being converted to digital before the “switch over” takes place?

Also, I am concerned to learn from colleagues in the Scottish Borders where the conversion takes place next year, that some relay transmitters will not carry all stations on digital (a “Freeview lite” service). Can you please confirm that the Tay Bridge and Camperdown relay transmitters serving the Dundee area will carry all Freeview services?

Thank you in anticipation of your reply.

Best regards
Cllr Fraser Macpherson
Councillor for the West End
Convener of Planning and Transport
Dundee City Council