THE telly regulator has offered hope to the thousands of isle TV watchers getting poor reception.

According to Ofcom, little can be done to improve the existing signal but when the new digital transmission starts in 2012 things could improve.

A spokesman said: "There is no short-term fix for analogue signals, but the digital signal is expected to improve when we switch over."

To overcome the dire digital reception in parts of Broadstairs the BBC, in conjunction with satellite communications company Arqiva, has investigated the possibility of installing a new transmitter but has had trouble finding a suitable building.

The spokesman confirmed that the poor-quality digital viewing across Thanet could be because the existing signal has been reduced. He said: "We accept TV services are limited. The power of transmitter networks has been limited to avoid interference with the analogue signal."

A new relay transmitter has been installed in Ramsgate but will not be switched on until 2012. The spokesman added: "We don't know what the reception will be like but we expect it will be better."

South Thanet MP Laura Sandys, who has been campaigning for improvements, believes these issues need to be resolved before the digital switch-on.

She said: "Some residents cannot get any analogue TV coverage, others have had to install Sky, which is expensive, and there are some serious problems with digital radio."