10 October 2023 , 06:40
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If you use Freeview to binge on boxsets and watch live TV then you could face some annoying disruption today, October 10. The popular telly platform is warning users that the unusually hot weather is causing issues with the signal that beams content to TVs and it could mean your picture isn't as clear as usual.
The irritating glitch is due to a huge band of high pressure which is sitting over the country.
As the TV team from Panasonic explains, "TV and radio signals, both analogue and digital, can be affected by atmospheric conditions, including high air pressure (which brings fine weather), heavy rain or snow. On Freeview, this may result in temporary pixelation or viewers receiving signals from outside of their area ."
Freeview says that the problems are likely to continue throughout the rest of the day.
"Viewers across parts of the country could see some disruption to their TV reception between Monday 9th and Tuesday 10th October," the service confirmed in a post on its service page.
Gales, snow and rain to batter country today with 80mph wind gusts
If you are affected then it's best to leave your TV alone and don't start trying to tweak the settings or retune the screen as this will have no effect.
"You are advised not to retune your TV during this time - reception will be restored once the high pressure passes," Freeview added.
If things are really bad, you can opt to switch over to Freeview Play instead. This platform uses broadband instead of an aerial to whizz shows and movies to screens - that means it's not affected by the high pressure.
For those not aware, Freeview Play is available on most modern smart TVs along with consoles, set-top boxes and even your smartphone.
Although this disruption is annoying today, better news is coming next week with Sky confirming that it is launching a new channel on Freeview.
Sky Mix will include series such as Cobra, Rob & Romesh Vs, A Discovery of Witches and A League of Their Own: Road Trip along with original factual specials such as Liverpool Narcos and Shark with Steve Backshall.
It will launch on October 18 with users able to track it down via channel 11 on their planner.