Some retailers are misleading consumers by selling Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) equipment ‘approved’ for the Irish market, RTÉ NL said yesterday.
RTÉ NL, the RTÉ company responsible for updating the country’s broadcasting network, is urging consumers to hold off purchasing new digital TV equipment until the launch of a DTT information campaign later this year.
The DTT system will allow viewers to receive high quality digital TV without a subscription – however they will need to purchase a set-top box. The DTT system will replace the current analogue system which is due to be turned off by 2012.
“Consumers need to be absolutely careful when buying DTT equipment. Some retailers are selling equipment that they say is ready for the Irish DTT system but it is difficult to see how they can say that as no DTT equipment has been approved for sale here” a spokesman for the RTÉ NL said.
Most DTT equipment, including Freeview set-top boxes, which have been on sale in the Republic since 2002 will not be compatible with the Irish DTT service which will use a different system to that in the UK.
As part of the information campaign equipment compatible with the Irish system will carry an Irish DTT approved logo, similar to the ‘Digital Tick’ used by the UK’s Freeview service.
Digital cable and satellite viewers will be unaffected by the changes.
