12 March 1997
Bring Back Channels!
By TOM GILLESPIE
Satellite television dish suppliers are gearing themselves for a boom period following the switching off of community deflector systems in Mayo and parts of Galway. Thousands of homes are without BBC1, BBC2, ITV and Channel 4 pictures since the plug was pulled at midnight on Sunday.
The deflector operators decided to blank-out the service on legal advice following the threat of High Court proceedings from cable and MMDS franchise holders.
And there is growing speculation that a 'Deflector System' candidate may be fielded in the cliff-hanger Mayo constituency in the forthcoming General Election. Mr. Joe Gibbons, county chairman of the organisation said they were going to explore every available avenue in their fight to have their system licenses. "We have been inundated with calls from irate householders following the switch-off."
Balla, Achill, Ballinrobe, Bangor, Castlebar, Claremorris, Westport , Connemara and Louisburgh ceased transmission. Further developments are expected when a public meeting is held in Westport on Friday week (March 21).
Mr. Gibbons added: "If we get the mandate to put up a candidate we will certainly make our presence felt as there are very strong feelings over this issue."
Meanwhile retailers of satellite dish equipment report a surge of interest in their systems following the blackout which has wiped programmes such as Eastenders, Emerdale Farm, Bookside off the screens.
Satellite supplier Joe Gavin of Manulla, Castlebar stated: "We are gearing for an upsurge in demand." Mayo Deputy Michael Ring has described as 'scandalous' early morning threatening phone calls to his home over the switching off of cross-channel pictures. He was upset and annoyed that he should be singled out for such abuse.
He received the calls on Monday morning, just hours after the Deflector System operators pulled the plug on the service. Deputy Ring stated: " I have been intimidated in the past few days. I will not and should not have to take that from anybody.
"I received early morning phone calls at 5.45a.m. berating me over the switch off of the deflector service.
"The service was terminated because of the threat of High Court proceedings
against the operators. It had nothing to do with the Government."
Connaught Telegraph - News & Sport - March 1997
