Antennas in demand

SINCE THE Multi-Choice Television (MCTV) channels were scrambled and the Dream Box rendered unusable, there has been a mad scramble to stores to secure “rabbit ears” antennas and outdoor antennas.With World Cup football at the forefront of people’s viewing choices, the shelves of many hardware and department stores have been cleared within the last few weeks.Ingrid Weekes, supervisor of Home Improvements and Hardware Supplies, said: “There has been a dramatic increase in sales for both rabbit ear and outdoor antennas. From the same day that the channels from MCTV got scrambled there have been people seeking antennas . . . We ran out, even our suppliers ran out, but we have been able to secure more rabbit ears but not the outdoor antennas.”  She added that with World Cup football showing, the sales made an additional climb as people were saying that without the antennas they were unable to view the Caribbean Broadcasting Corporation’s Channel 8.Other hardware stores had similar experiences. There was an increase in antenna sales at C & I Hardware in the last month or so, according to a representative, although “it was not crazy”. A sales associate at Dacosta Mannings Warrens said: “The ‘rabbit ears’ antennas have been in high demand, especially since the time of World Cup football. During the first week of World Cup football action stock was sold out as persons kept coming in asking for them.” (LK)