Spanish government turned off its Mijas television transmitter. More than a million inhabitants in 51 municipalities can no longer watch analogue television

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Spanish government turned off its Mijas television transmitter. More than a million inhabitants in 51 municipalities can no longer watch analogue television. Digital television is taking its place, but many in the region are not ready, and technology is not yet in place for all.
Specifically, 1,128,278 people, or 91.5% of the population, can no longer see analogue television. Municipalities include Málaga, with 566,447 inhabitants, Marbella Segude (130,549), Mijas (70,437), Fuengirola (68,646) and Benalmádena (55,960). Official sources confirmed yesterday that another 17 locations, totaling more than 104,000 people, would face the shutdown on Tuesday.In Andalucia, a total of 523 municipalities will no longer be able to view analogue television, but will be able to receive Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT), according to data provided by the Junta de Andalucía.In Marbella, as much as half of the population still cannot receive DTT signals because they lie in a reception shadow, with Elviria and Las Chapas most affected. The government says it is working to install a repeater in the Nueva Andalucia district to remedy the problem, and it is considering the installation of a second central transmitter in Marbella.Other communities also report less than optimal reception, but the government is reiterating that once minor problems in reception and signal paths have been corrected, DTT will provide significant improvements over analogue broadcasting.
The Ministry of Industry, which is responsible for broadcasting infrastructure, has admitted that it cannot provide for all the needs of every community until it knows the full consequences of the analogue shutdown.Meanwhile, despite the challenges of implementing DTT, but not surprisingly, electronics stores across the region are reporting a surge in sales of digital television receiversWatch out for tricksters who are visiting homes in the province, especially those occupied by elderly residents, and telling them that their Digital Terrestrial Television receiver needs changing, only to then sell them a new one at “a very good price”. In most cases, the fraudsters are taking a receiver from one home and replacing it with another, to then go on to sell the receiver they have just removed at a nearby house, telling the occupants that they can have it at a special price thanks to a grant for pensioners. If they already have one, they convince them that it will not work once analogical TV is switched off, and offer to sell them a better one at half its true value. To seem more credible, they even ask for their victims’ ID.
The Ministry of Industry, Tourism and Commerce has reported that groups which are considered to be in danger of social exclusion will receive TDT decoders for free in the 28 towns where analogical TV will be switched off before the end of this year, which are: Coin, Frigiliana, Guaro, Monda, Nerja, Torrox, Velez-Málaga, Torremolinos, Algatocin, Alpandeire, Atajate, Benadalid, Benahavis, Benalauria, Benaojan, Benarraba, Casares, Cortes de la Frontera, Estepona, Farajan, Gaucin, Genalguacil, Igualeja, Jimera de Libar, Jubrique, Juzcar, Montejaque and Parauta.
If you are over the age of 65 and are level II or III dependant, have a hearing or sight disability of 33 per cent or more, or are over the age of 80 and live alone or with another person of a similar age you can ask for your decoder in Malaga, Calle Duquesa de Parcent 8, second floor, at your local town hall, or thanks to Junta de Andalucia volunteers who will be distributing them.