THOUSANDS of Scottish telly viewers have had their programmes blacked out without warning.
Bosses at Freeview decided to bring in a new transmitter signal which doesn't work on several types of set-top boxes.
But many Scots didn't have a clue about the change - until their screens went blank.
It's believed that around 16,000 Scots who get their telly through Freeview are now saddled with useless boxes. One of them, Campbell Bosanquet, 61, of Aberdeen, said: "I was flicking through the channels when my box just stopped working.
"I find it absolutely incredible that they can just change the signal without announcing it."
Freeview admitted that at least four types of box - the Daewoo DS608P, the Labgear DTT100, the Triax DVB 2000T and the Portland DP100 - can't receive the new transmitter signal.
Two types of combined Freeview boxes and VCRs, the Daewoo SV900 and Bush IDVCR01, are also affected.
And engineers say the change could affect some TVs which have Freeview built in.
Millions of viewers signed up for Freeview on the promise that they would be guaranteed TV for life.
But because of the transmitter change, an estimated 200,000 people across the UK will have to shell out for new set-top boxes.
And an insider at one leading box maker admitted that some of the useless old boxes could still be sitting on shop shelves.
The source said: "Whole batches of obsolete boxes might have been bought from manufacturers years ago and there's no way of telling if they will keep popping up."
Digital TV expert Pete Carlson, of consumer website Radio and Telly, slammed Freeview for their handling of the change.
He said: "It's been hard enough getting people to switch over to digital TV. Now people are being asked to bin equipment that's only a couple of years old.
"Viewers have a right to be both angry and confused. How were they meant to know?
"It's possible to flash a message up on screen to warn viewers about changes. You have to wonder why this wasn't done."
Freeview said they changed the transmitter signal to allow them to carry more channels and interactive features. They believe that only one per cent of set-top boxes have been blacked out by the move.
The new signal is being introduced in stages across the UK. Scotland was switched over on Tuesday.
A Freeview spokeswoman said: "It has been necessary to carry out some network enhancements.
"Unfortunately, as a result, some older boxes will stop working."
A spokeswoman for broadcasting regulator Ofcom said: "We are aware that some viewers are experiencing less than a reliable service and are monitoring the situation."
Freeview
The obsolete boxes that Freeview said they know of are the:
Daewoo DS608P
Labgear DTT100
Triax DVB 2000T
Portland DP100
Bosses at Freeview decided to bring in a new transmitter signal which doesn't work on several types of set-top boxes.
But many Scots didn't have a clue about the change - until their screens went blank.
It's believed that around 16,000 Scots who get their telly through Freeview are now saddled with useless boxes. One of them, Campbell Bosanquet, 61, of Aberdeen, said: "I was flicking through the channels when my box just stopped working.
"I find it absolutely incredible that they can just change the signal without announcing it."
Freeview admitted that at least four types of box - the Daewoo DS608P, the Labgear DTT100, the Triax DVB 2000T and the Portland DP100 - can't receive the new transmitter signal.
Two types of combined Freeview boxes and VCRs, the Daewoo SV900 and Bush IDVCR01, are also affected.
And engineers say the change could affect some TVs which have Freeview built in.
Millions of viewers signed up for Freeview on the promise that they would be guaranteed TV for life.
But because of the transmitter change, an estimated 200,000 people across the UK will have to shell out for new set-top boxes.
And an insider at one leading box maker admitted that some of the useless old boxes could still be sitting on shop shelves.
The source said: "Whole batches of obsolete boxes might have been bought from manufacturers years ago and there's no way of telling if they will keep popping up."
Digital TV expert Pete Carlson, of consumer website Radio and Telly, slammed Freeview for their handling of the change.
He said: "It's been hard enough getting people to switch over to digital TV. Now people are being asked to bin equipment that's only a couple of years old.
"Viewers have a right to be both angry and confused. How were they meant to know?
"It's possible to flash a message up on screen to warn viewers about changes. You have to wonder why this wasn't done."
Freeview said they changed the transmitter signal to allow them to carry more channels and interactive features. They believe that only one per cent of set-top boxes have been blacked out by the move.
The new signal is being introduced in stages across the UK. Scotland was switched over on Tuesday.
A Freeview spokeswoman said: "It has been necessary to carry out some network enhancements.
"Unfortunately, as a result, some older boxes will stop working."
A spokeswoman for broadcasting regulator Ofcom said: "We are aware that some viewers are experiencing less than a reliable service and are monitoring the situation."
Freeview
The obsolete boxes that Freeview said they know of are the:
Daewoo DS608P
Labgear DTT100
Triax DVB 2000T
Portland DP100
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