I WONDER if I could prevail on you to help clear up the confusion that has arisen over two articles in newspapers associated and published by Newsquest Media (Southern) Ltd.

On the front page of News Extra & Advertiser published on 1st January 2009 is the headline ‘CABLE TV TERMINATED’ and in the Southern Daily Echo on 31st December 2008 on page 9 the headline ‘Plug is pulled on tenants’ cable TV’. While neither of these headlines are totally inaccurate, they could be considered perhaps a little misleading.

In fact, considering some of the comments in the letters page of the Echo on January 1st 2009 from Tim Jim, Seatonsaint, Condor man and Iain, Lordshill these headlines have been absolutely misleading. Many years ago, in the block that I live in and in all identical Council blocks spread over Southampton the television signal was received by a large aerial on the block roof, amplified and distributed around the block. One just plugged the television aerial into a socket in the lounge wall to receive BBC1, BBC2, ITV and Channel 4.

The Council then decided to alter this set-up. Videotron ran cables up the walls of the blocks and cabled in a television supply to each individual flat or maisonette. Again, just the four channels listed above were available. Though, one could, if one wished, subscribe to Videotron and receive extra channels. Channel 5, when it came into being, was added to the channels supplied free. Over the next few years the supplier changed from Videotron to, I believe, Mercury, then NTL and then to the present suppliers, Virgin.

So, despite what the writers to your letter page might think, the only television channels supplied by the cable service to mine and other dwellings are BBC1, BBC2, ITV1, Channel 4 and Channel 5.

I would also like to point out that, despite having a recently purchased digital television, with built in Freeview capabilities, I can only receive the five channels listed. Also, despite paying a full television licence I cannot even receive any other channels. No BBC3 or 4, ITV 2, 3 or 4, No E4, More 4 or Film 4, no 5US for this over privileged council tenant.

Plus, the signal provided by Virgin is an analogue signal so Freeview and Set-top Digital boxes are of no use whatsoever. If you doubt this a telephone call to Virgin or Southampton Council will confirm the veracity of this statement.

I conclude by including a copy of the option that two thirds of the council tenants affected favoured. Option 1 Satellite and Aerial. One main communal satellite dish will be put on top of your building along with a TV aerial and associated equipment. This would give you the ability to access Freeview digital channels using a digital TV or a set top box of your choice that you WOULD NEED TO PURCHASE. It also gives you the choice of getting a PAY MONTHLY SUBSCRIPTION to a satellite TV service, including SKY and Freesat.

It will enable the removal of all existing dishes from buildings so that we do not break any planning regulations but will ensure existing service users remain connected to satellite channels. It will give tower block residents the same choice as all other tenants.

So Condor Man, TimJim, Seatonsaint and Iain, Lordshill, as you will see, nothing free.

A CAWS, Southampton.