Struggling families could be left without TV reception when South Auckland goes digital.
The region and other parts of the North Island will be among the last in the country to move from analogue television to the new system in December.
That means households without a UHF aerial face a bill of at least $200 to $300 to receive the new service along with the cost of a receiver for older TVs.
Mangere Budgeting Service chief executive Darryl Evans says it’s unfair many families that rent will have to bear the cost of installation.
“The problem is to get an aerial. They probably don’t have the money.
Age Concern Counties-Manukau chief executive Wendy Bremner says government organisation Going Digital has done a great job advertising the change over the last few years.
But the move is likely to affect some elderly people aged between 65 and 74. They don’t qualify for government funding aimed at helping over-75s switch to digital.
“They don’t have any discretionary spend. I think that will have the biggest impact.” Continue reading