SIX thousand homes in Darwen can only receive half of the digital TV channels available since the switchover.

Viewers in the central and western parts of the town have been told they will have to buy Sky subscription or sign up for Freesat if they want to view the full range of commercial channels.

The issue has arisen because certain areas are in a signal blackspot and receive transmission signals from an aerial booster relay in Blacksnape, not the main Winter Hill transmitter.

Until seven years ago, viewers in these parts could not receive Channel Four, and until now had not been able to receive Channel Five.

Residents have now complained to Digital UK and MP Janet Anderson, asking for the strength of the relay signal to be boosted.

But Chris Cain of Digital UK said that there were no plans for this.

He said: “After switchover, viewers who get their TV signal from a local relay will be able to receive around 15 Freeview channels for the first time, up from four or five on analogue.

“These include all of the main TV channels available before switchover, plus Channel Five and some additional services from the BBC, ITV and Channel 4. All of the channels funded by the licence fee are available.”

He added: “Shopping channels and others broadcast by commercial channels are not available on any relay station because they have chosen not to build into it, or because the transmission signals are not good enough.

“Everybody using a relay is in the same boat and if they want other options they have to either pay a one-off fee for Freesat that gives over 150 channels, or sign up to Sky.

“The switchover is about making TV fairer for all viewers, and 97 per cent of people in the Granada TV region have access to the full programming.”

Viewers can check their digital TV options and the channels available where they live using the Digital UK postcode checker at digitaluk.co.uk.