Isle of Man opts for Granada

The Isle of Man will receive the ITV Granada regional news service and become part of the Granada news region rather than remain part of the Border region.

The final phase of Ofcom's Review of Public Service Broadcasting is published today. The review addressed whether the Isle of Man would prefer to remain part of the Border region, when parts of the service are merged with Tyne Tees, or whether it would prefer to receive the Granada regional news service and become part of the Granada news region. Ofcom has listened to Island representations and states:

“The Isle of Man Communications Commission conducted a consultation exercise, which received 120 responses, of which 77% favoured the Granada option and only 17% Border. This outcome also reflected the view of the Island’s parliament. ITV is also agreeable to the change, which will be made, but which for technical reasons will only be possible towards the end of 2009.”

Hon Adrian Earnshaw MHK, Chairman of the Communications Commission said:

“On behalf of the Commission, we welcome the agreement to switch the Isle of Man transmitters to Granada. The Commission, Tynwald and the great majority of respondents to our consultation agreed that the Island would be better served by being part of the ITV Granada region due to our cultural, economic and social links with the North West of England.”

Dr Carmel McLaughlin, Director of the Communications Commission said:

“Plans are well advanced for digital switchover. On the 18 June, BBC2 analogue transmissions from the Island’s transmitters will be turned off and replaced by digital transmissions. Digital switchover will not begin in the North West of England until November 2009. To avoid confusion, switchover will proceed as planned in the summer and we will continue to receive the ITV Border regional service which will provide viewers with information about the switchover process. For this and other technical reasons the Isle of Man transmitters are unlikely to switch to Granada until that region goes digital at the end of the year.”

Notes:

1. The Communications Commission, a Statutory Board, regulates the telecommunications and broadcasting sectors on the Island.
2. Ofcom is the UK Communications Regulator which licences and regulates ITV.
3. Viewers with satellite TV can watch a number of ITV and BBC regional services by adding them to their favourites. Granada will replace Border as the default ITV service on the satellite Electronic Programme Guide (EPG) when the Island terrestrial transmitters switch to Granada later in the year.

For further Information please phone: 01624 677022 or email: margaret.king@cc.gov.im or tom.brew@cc.gov.im