Some Big Island residents won't be able to tune into public television for part of January.

PBS Hawaii says the problem will affect over-the-air signal viewers from Hilo to South Point even if they have a new digital receiver.

The station said yesterday that a shipping company error delayed construction of a new digital relay site on the Big Island. The site will receive the broadcast signal from the station's new Maui transmitter and relay it to the Hilo translator.

Meanwhile, PBS Hawaii's analog transmitter on Maui's Haleakala will go out of service Thursday as part of the transition to digital TV.

PBS Hawaii hopes to have the Big Island up and running within two weeks.

PBS Hawaii programming will still go to viewers who subscribe to cable or satellite services.