Bilsdale transmitter: New TV mast could be working by 5 October

Engineers hope a new TV and radio mast to replace the Bilsdale transmitter will be working by 5 October.

Arqiva are building a 262ft (80m)-high temporary mast in a quarry close to the Bilsdale transmitter, which caught fire on 10 August cutting off signal to more than a million people.

The company said the temporary fix should serve about 90% of the homes previously covered by Bilsdale.

However, the planned completion date is dependent on "agreeable weather".

A BBC spokesman said if conditions remain clear, the temporary mast could be operational for digital TV by 5 October, with DAB radio following "a day or two after".

He said: "The transition will bring with it some disruption and the need for [TV] viewers to retune in many areas.

"Work to understand how best to support viewers through that process is ongoing."

A new generator is also being installed at the Arncliffe Wood mast after "incidents leading to loss of [digital TV] services" in the last few days.

Meanwhile, Arqiva intend to remove the fire-damaged mast, which at 1,032ft (315m) tall was the tenth tallest structure in the UK, and replace it with a "more resilient temporary 80m mast", the spokesman said.

Further advice regarding services can be found here.

BBC television remains available on iPlayer and radio stations can be listened to on BBC Sounds.

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