Several households have been unable to retune to Hellas Sat’s new DVB-T2 platform and are still not receiving television channels, following the switch that took effect on July 1, 2026.
The change involves upgrading terrestrial digital television to newer broadcast technology, since DVB-T2 is more advanced than the previous DVB-T standard. According to Hellas Sat, DVB-T2 allows for better picture and sound quality, more television channels and more efficient use of broadcast frequencies.
How to retune
Hellas Sat says the process involves three steps. Viewers should first check that their television supports DVB-T2, or otherwise obtain an external receiver. They should then connect a UHF aerial to the television to receive the DVB-T2 signal, and finally run an automatic channel search to access free digital television.
The steps required depend on existing equipment. If a television is relatively modern, generally manufactured after 2017, and already supports DVB-T2, only a simple channel retuning is needed. Older televisions will require either a DVB-T2 decoder, costing around 20 to 50 euros, or replacement with a new DVB-T2-compatible set.
For automatic tuning, viewers should go to their television’s settings, select “automatic channel search” or “auto tune,” choose “DVB-T” or “aerial” as the signal source, start the search and wait for it to complete, then save the channels found.
For manual tuning, viewers should press the MENU button on their remote, go to settings, and select manual search. For package 1, the television should be set to channel 35, and for package 2, to channel 48. In the free Famagusta area, package 1 should be set to channel 23 and package 2 to channel 26.
Why problems are occurring
Hellas Sat CEO Christodoulos Protopapas told Philenews that a small percentage of households are experiencing problems with their aerials. He explained that the new DVB-T2 system carries more picture data through cables, which can cause issues in older installations, and that households with aerial signal boosters may also experience problems due to the strength of the Hellas Sat signal.
According to those responsible for the rollout, the problems are mainly occurring in homes with older installations, or with lower-quality televisions and decoders.
What to do if channels are missing
Viewers who cannot see channels after the switch should retune their channels, check whether their television or decoder supports DVB-T2, and check their cables and aerial. If the problem persists, they should contact a technician or the call centre.
Those affected can visit www.hellas-sat.digital or contact the Call Centre on 22 00 07 37, which operates Monday to Sunday from 9am to 9pm.
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