Pixelation takes the form of small blocks moving rapidly within the picture. Some call it the" jigsaw puzzle"
 effect. It occurs when the incoming signal to your TV is weak or incomplete and can be caused by
problems occurring in the TV studio, the satellite up-link/down-link chain, our re-broadcast
system, or even receiving components such as your antenna, coax cable or splitters.

If the pixelation occurs nearly all the time, on one or more digital channels, the signal is probably too
weak .  Please see our other FAQ items on antennas, splitters etc., for ways to improve it.

If pixelation happens infrequently then the problem is probably in the studio/satellite distribution
system and beyond our control.

If the pixelation occurs simultaneously, on all the channels on a single transmitter (ie. 32.1, 32.2, 32.3),
then the problem is ours. More channels means more data. If there is more data to be sent
than the transmitter can carry, some data will get lost and the result will be pixelation.

We try to mix and match programs to minimize pixelation but the amount of data needed changes by
scene and by program. The problem is a bit like herding cats. Experience has shown us that "multiplexing"
three channels on a transmitter is a reasonable data load; with minimal pixelation. So most of our
transmitters carry 3 channels. A few transmitters carry four;  where two or more of them are known to
have small data streams. We do everything we can to minimize the problem, but cannot totally prevent it.

And no, pixelation is not caused by Pixies.