230,000 Freeview boxes 'obsolete' after upgrade

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Set-top boxes in thousands of homes have stopped working after the network was upgraded to increase the number of channels available.

But many older boxes could not cope with the extra information and will now have to be replaced.

Furious viewers, including some who had spent more than £100 on the equipment a few years ago, left angry messages on internet message boards.

Janet Richardson wrote: "I am angry about the lack of publicity and consultation about this change which affects so many people."

The first boxes stopped working last month when DMOL, the company that makes changes to the Freeview platform, began upgrading the network to transmit up to 48 channels, more interactive services and digital radio stations.

During the next six weeks, owners of boxes made by Daewoo, Labgear, Triax and Bush were affected.

Daewoo commercial manager Scott Purdom said: "The two boxes from Daewoo that were affected were made before the digital tick logo that set a standard for digital TV."

Freeview said about one per cent of Freeview equipment sold was hit - about 230,000 boxes.

Freeview spokeswoman Laura Imregi claimed there had been advance warning in local media.