update=got through today and they said that a BT engineer had cut there telephone lines outside their callcentre (those pesky openreach engineers strike again!), anyway was booked in for free repair (firmware update), and am expecting a callback. have had the tv for just under 2 years now and out of warranty
i found this on the italian toshiba website that sheds some light on these issues, its a notice on the main page:
'CONSUMER ELECTRONICS GROUP
GROUP COMPONENTS FOR ANTENNA SYSTEMS
Dear Associates,
with reference to terrestrial TV signals transmitted in digital technology, some manufacturers have reported strong
issues (evident particularly in the areas of switch-over and switch-off) resulting from the presence in
air television signals that affect the abnormal functioning of devices with
digital tuner, resulting in many cases the blocking apparatus.
Given this situation, many consumers mistakenly led to believe that the
malfunction is caused by a technical problem of the receiver are returned as faulty the
products to retail outlets at which they were purchased, creating considerable damage in terms
economic and image producers.
Anitec intends to take action against the representative organizations of broadcasters, and
possibly with competent institutions so that the matter be resolved as
quickly as possible.
To this end we ask you to give us every possible detail (type of anomaly, areas of higher incidence
issuers or mux concerned) about the problems encountered by you.
We will inform you about developments.
Sincerely
Tiziano Kidneys'
gypojames
March 2010