Newsroom
A major upgrade to the national television broadcasting system has left thousands of households across Cyprus facing blank screens and locked out of major networks.
The transition to High Definition (HD) broadcasting, which requires viewers to switch to the newer DVB-T2 transmission standard, has sparked widespread public frustration over the last 48 hours.
Local broadcasting authorities and customer service lines were completely overwhelmed on the opening day of the rollout. Call centers reported unprecedented volumes of inquiries, leaving a significant percentage of incoming customer calls unanswered.
Viewers left with limited access
The primary technical issue affects access to local networks. A vast majority of affected residents report that their channel guides currently display only a handful of stations, specifically CyBC (RIK), Greece's ERT, and Euronews. In contrast, many viewers in certain regions note that their equipment is successfully picking up several Turkish television broadcasts instead of the domestic package.
The disruption stems entirely from hardware compatibility. The new HD signals require receivers capable of decoding DVB-T2 signals. Viewers with older equipment must now take steps to adapt to the new digital framework.
Technical requirements for households
The resolution for individual households depends entirely on the age and specifications of their current hardware:
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For modern setups: Owners of televisions that inherently support the DVB-T2 standard simply need to run an automatic channel rescan through their device settings menu to restore full programming.
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For older setups: Households with television sets lacking built-in DVB-T2 compatibility must either purchase an external set-top box converter or replace the television entirely with a newer model.
Residents can verify their hardware compatibility by checking the physical user manual, browsing the system settings menu, or looking up the exact model number online. Equipment that explicitly features the "DVB-T2" or "HEVC/H.265" designation will function with the new system. As a general rule of thumb, most television sets manufactured and sold after 2017 feature these components internally.
Equipment costs and troubleshooting
For those requiring an external upgrade, a standard DVB-T2 decoder connects directly to existing television sets to convert the new signal. The upgrade does not require any modifications to existing rooftop or indoor antennas.
While accessing the public television signals remains completely free of charge, consumers with outdated hardware will need to absorb the hardware costs. Basic set-top boxes retail locally between €20 and €50, with prices varying based on premium features such as HDMI connectivity, USB recording capabilities, and high-definition output options.
If a television remains without channels following the transition, technicians recommend that viewers first attempt a full channel rescan, verify their equipment specifications, and inspect all physical cable connections before attempting to contact a professional technician or the national helpline.
