Government's TV channel CITV will be back on air within the next few days — but with fewer programmes than before for a temporary period.

A damaged piece of equipment led to an interrupted service on the channel over Christmas and it was taken off-air completely just before the New Year.

The Department of Communication and Information said yesterday a replacement part had been ordered and would take between four to six weeks to be delivered and installed. Programming is being transferred to a temporary server.

"In the meantime, technicians at the station are transferring programming into a temporary server with the intent of returning to air within a few days, but on a shorter programming cycle," said a statement.

A survey conducted early last year showed that just two percent of the population watch CITV, which costs nearly $1 million a year to run.