Up to 28,000 people in the Western Bay of Plenty will need to re-tune their televisions for the digital switch-over.
The Ministry of Economic Development estimates about 20 per cent of people in the Western Bay will be affected when the broadcast frequencies change on Tuesday next week.
The frequency changes mean any household with terrestrial Freeview - televisions with Freeview boxes run through wall antennae - will need to re-tune their TVs.
MED radio spectrum policy and planning manager Len Starling said it was unclear the exact number of people who would need to remedy their TVs once the change occurred. "We don't know how many people are watching TV through each [frequency]. It's only an estimate. It's about 20 per cent, in very rough terms, that are affected," he said.
The channel frequencies were changing to ensure that New Zealand's radio spectrum was freed up for other uses and emerging technologies, he said. The changes would not affect Sky subscribers, analogue [free-to-air] TV viewers or Freeview owners who accessed the service through a satellite. Mr Starling said householders could avoid being inconvenienced next Tuesday by researching what was required. "Check beforehand to know how to re-tune your television. Do that ahead of time. Re-tuning can be done simply using the remote control," he said.
For viewers in shared facilities there might be a greater inconvenience, he added. "Those who watch Freeview TV and share an aerial with others, such as in an apartment building or retirement village, should contact their property manager for advice on whether their installation requires any modification."
Managers of apartments, hotels or motels were advised to talk to an installer to see if any technical adjustments were needed.