BBC 'no licence to thrill'

People living in Ivy Mead, close to Altnagelvin, are unable to receive BBC1 or BBC2 via the analogue (non-digital) signal because the area is located in a low lying 'dip' and is therefore bypassed.

Well known Londonderry musician Jack Molloy contacted the Sentinel to vent his anger at the situation, claiming that the public service broadcaster is disenfranchising the residents of Ivy Mead. Mr Molloy also queried why he has still pay a TV licence fee for a service he cannot avail of.

Speaking to the Sentinel, Jack Molloy said: "They (the BBC) are paying millions of pounds in public money to high-profile celebrities to front shows. So surely they could put up a booster to allow to receive the programmes on the analogue service.

"I am not prepared to pay for the installation of a 40ft pole on my roof to receive this."

Satellite equipment was installedat his house when Mr Molloy moved in, allowing him to receive the BBC channels. However, Jack told the Sentinel that had the equipment not been installed he would have been left without any viewing capacity at all.

"I pay 240 per year to a satellite company in order to receive the BBC. I don't really want to avail of the vast majority of the programming on there, but I am left with no option. And I still have to pay a licence fee," he said.

He added: "All I want to do is turn the TV on and receive an analogue signal-a service the BBC are supposed to be providing to the UK.

"Way back when my mother and father bought their first black and white television, they just plugged it in and received a signal. Now in this day and age of modern technology that doesn't happen."

The Ivy Mead resident says he is a big fan of the BBC, something which has aggrieved him more in his current situation.

"They recently conducted a series of Remembrance programmes and their music coverage for things such as the Proms are unsurpassed.

"Nobody else produces coverage like it. So why should I pay 145.50 for a licence fee and 240 to another company just to receive it.

"If I drive into a filling station and pay 10 and nothing comes out of the petrol pump, would I accept that?

"To me, this almost the same situation. They should be obliged to provide the service for which they are being paid," said Jack.

He continued: "What about the people in Ivy Mead who cannot afford to pay 240 per year to a satellite company to receive their public broadcaster?

"The BBC motto is 'Nation Shall Speak Peace Unto Nation'-well at the minute I am not getting much peace over this!"

Analogue TV services have been in the process of being phased out since 2007 and is expected to be completed by 2012.

The Sentinel asked the BBC if there were there plans to resolve this problem in the near future, orwould this situationremain until the planned digital switch over in 2012?

"The Sentinel also asked if the BBCthought the situationwas an adequate given the fact that consumers in the area have got valid licences?

In response, a spokeswoman for the BBC in Belfast told the Sentinel:

"It has never been possible to provide full analogue coverage to every home in the UK, which is why the BBC hasbeen so actively involvedin the development ofdigital services.

"These are free at the point of use andallow the vast majority of homes inLondonderryand across the rest of Northern Irelandtoaccess the BBC's television channels."