Newsroom
Thousands of households across Cyprus lost access to local television stations on Monday following the country's official transition to the new DVB-T2 digital broadcasting standard. If your screen is currently blank, the Department of Electronic Communications has outlined the specific steps required to restore your television signal.
This guide details how to resolve the connection issues based on your household setup.
Check your hardware compatibility
The network change only impacts viewers who watch free-to-air channels using an indoor or outdoor rooftop antenna. Satellite, cable, and internet television subscribers are unaffected and do not need to alter their settings.
- Modern televisions: Most television sets purchased within the last few years feature integrated DVB-T2 tuners. These devices simply require a new channel scan.
- Older televisions: Older models cannot process the upgraded high-definition signal. To fix this, you must buy an external DVB-T2 decoder box from an electronics retail store and connect it to your current television set. Retailers are responsible for verifying device compatibility.
How to fix the software glitch on Greek imports
The ministry identified a specific software limitation affecting television sets and decoders imported from Greece. The original software on these devices blocks automatic tuning to local Cyprus frequencies.
To bypass this restriction, viewers must complete the following steps:
- Open the main settings menu on your television or decoder remote control.
- Navigate to the installation or setup options and locate the regional settings or country selection tab.
- Manually change the designated country from Greece to a different European nation, such as Germany or the United Kingdom.
- Run a new automatic channel scan.
Inspect residential cabling and antennas
The new high-definition network carries significantly more data than the previous system, making it highly sensitive to signal interference. If a channel scan still yields no results, the issue likely stems from household infrastructure rather than the network broadcast.
Viewers should check for the following issues:
- Antenna alignment: Outdoor aerials may need to be adjusted to face the nearest Hellas Sat transmission tower.
- Damaged wiring: Weathered coaxial cables, broken wall sockets, or faulty signal splitters can completely block the new HD frequency.
Contacting technical support
Hellas Sat has established a dedicated telephone service desk to assist residents with tuning and hardware difficulties. Technicians will also provide advice on residential antenna problems.
Helpline number: 22000737
Operating hours: Daily until 21:00
The Department of Electronic Communications warned that the helpline is experiencing severe delays due to a high volume of inquiries. The service provider has stated that operators will log missed calls and contact residents who are unable to get through immediately.
