Isle of Man switches to ITV Granada

Isle of Man viewers who receive digital TV from on-Island transmitters (Freeview) or via satellite will receive the ITV Granada regional news service and become part of the Granada ITV region from Thursday 16 July. Freeview viewers will need to retune their equipment to obtain all of the new channels which will become available when analogue BBC1, ITV and Channel 4 are switched off on Thursday. Viewers who receive digital television (Freeview) directly from the Caldbeck main transmitter in Cumbria will continue to receive the ITV Border service.

For Sky viewers, this change to Granada will happen automatically. ITV Granada will replace ITV Border and become the default service on the Sky electronic programme guide at channel 103 from Thursday 16 July.

However in order to make sure that Sky+ recordings on ITV1 continue to work viewers will need to go to their Sky+ or Sky+HD planner and cancel any future Sky+ recordings already set up on ITV1 and reselect them from channel 103 from the 16 July. Programmes already recorded in their Sky+ or Sky+HD planners will not be affected.

Dr Carmel McLaughlin, Director of the Communications Commission said:

“On behalf of the Commission I would like to thank BSkyB and ITV for working together to ensure satellite viewers have access to ITV Granada. We would like to thank ITV Border for their coverage of the Island over many years but we also look forward to seeing the Island feature on Granada Reports."

For further information

Please contact the Communications Commission on 677022, write to the above address or email tom.brew@cc.gov.im or margaret.king@cc.gov.im.