Change coming for television viewers across the country who rely on the soon to be redundant MMDS service.
Up to 10,000 households that depend solely on the Multichannel Multipoint Distribution System (MMDS) are expected to lose their television service at midnight when the broadcasting spectrum that facilitates it is reallocated.
Once known as multi channel viewing, the clock is now ticking for people that have enjoyed services via the MMDS signal.
The MMDS was rolled out during the 1980s providing television services to areas not served by cable. The spectrum it uses is now being reassigned for mobile and broadband technologies.
Some customers will see blank screens come midnight.
Virgin Media, which operates the MMDS service, says just over 0.5% of Ireland's 1.5 million pay TV customers still depend on the system, with subscribers in almost every county and the highest concentration in the Galway region.
Chrissie Flynn of Active Retirement Ballinasloe describes the loss of the service as a big deal, as television can often be the only bit of company you have.
The roughly 10,000 affected households can switch to Saorview for domestic channels or explore free‑to‑air or subscription satellite options for international services.
An RTÉ News report broadcast on 18 April 2016. The reporter is Pat McGrath.
