A NEW television channel has thrown satellite systems and videos across York into chaos.

When viewers in the city switched on to their satellite or video channels yesterday, many were faced with a test transmission card for York TV. The card, which is being transmitted from Askham Bryan, belongs to a new television channel for the city, which will launch next month.

It has left residents across the city having to retune their equipment to be able to watch a video or satellite channels.

Neil Clarke, who lives off Beckfield Lane in Acomb, said he first noticed the test transmission card when he turned on to his video channel yesterday.

He said: "I will have to reprogram my video now, which is really annoying. I hadn't even heard of York TV until this happened."

York resident Craig Farrow, who lives in Haxby, said he knew several people who had been complaining that their video or satellite viewing was interrupted by York TV.

Jack Weatherall, programme director for York TV, said they were sorry for any inconvenience which had been caused to residents in York.

He said the channel they broadcast on had been selected for them by the Independent Television Commission (ITC) and they had not expected any problems.

He said: "We are talking to the engineering department at ITC to investigate why this is happening. We are confident that only a small minority of people will be affected."

He said that in the short term, people could retune their video and satellite equipment until the problem is resolved.

The ITC said nobody was unavailable for comment until Monday.

Updated: 14:04 Friday, October 03, 2003