Glenmaye (IoM) digital TV transmitter (no analogue)

The Isle of Man is a British Isle, but not part of the Great Britain nor the United Kingdom (of Great Britain and Northern Ireland). It is not a full member of the European Union (it only has has associate status).


Your island's parliament (the Tynwald) has not made provision for Freeview.


The one-month overlap is the standard for all at digital switchover.

The one-month period is the amount of time that has been calculated to provide enough time for people to get Freeview boxes (or PVRs) for their unconverted television. During this period the analogue signals will be overlaid with scrolling messages indicating their imminent demise.

The service you get is no worse than many non-urban areas in the UK, indeed you can choose to watch from different UK transmitters as well as the local relays. However, it is up to the Isle of Man parliament (Tymwald) how the island is run, as the Isle of Man is not part of the United Kingdom.

Kevin, the answer is above.

The service you get is no worse than many non-urban areas in the UK, indeed you can choose to watch from different UK transmitters as well as the local relays. However, it is up to the Isle of Man parliament (Tymwald) how the island is run, as the Isle of Man is not part of the United Kingdom.

Does it take more than a month to go out and get a Freeview box and attach it to your TV?

As I pointed out above, the service you get is no worse than many non-urban areas in the UK, indeed you can choose to watch from different UK transmitters as well as the local relays.

However, it is up to the Isle of Man parliament ( Tynwald) how the island is run, as the Isle of Man is not part of the United Kingdom.


Quoting http://www.tynwald.org.im/papers/hansards/2003-2004/th18112003.pdf


"In response to part (2) of the Question, Mr President, I am advised that, because both digital terrestrial television and analogue transmission share the same group of just 46 UHF frequencies, DTT transmissions must be ?interleaved? amongst the existing analogue services. This same band of frequencies is shared with our neighbours in the UK, on mainland Europe and in Ireland, many of whom are also planning their own DTT services. It follows that there is a severe limitation in the availability of interference-free broadcast frequencies across Europe and, in particular, throughout the British Isles. Great care, therefore, has to be taken when planning DTT services, if interference to existing viewers is to be avoided. This care extends to coordinating with our neighbours on each occasion where a frequency is needed.


These restrictions mean that it has not been possible for digital terrestrial television to match the near universal coverage of the existing four-channel analogue network. DTT is transmitted from just 80 sites across the UK and reaches only two thirds of the UK population. Most experts agree that it will not be possible for DTT coverage to match the levels achieved by analogue until the point of digital switchover, which is proposed to be towards the end of the decade. The plans for the roll-out of Freeview, as digital terrestrial television is currently called, to those areas that do not yet get it, are still not finalised, but the Isle of Man will be included in plans to make available digital television to all those areas which cannot yet get it before analogue television is switched off. My staff at the Communications Commission do keep up a close liaison both with the BBC and with the other bodies who are working on the eventual transition from analogue to digital television transmission standards.


Planning for the switch over is still at an early stage, but it is not expected that current analogue reception areas will be replicated precisely by digital terrestrial television. Other forms of relay, including satellite, are being investigated, but no decisions, whether here or across, have yet been made. When they are, technical considerations will loom large, in particular, signal levels for digital terrestrial television are not equivalent in describing expected reception areas to those used for the current analogue service. The Isle of Man is fully included in the technical work currently under way to examine the issues under the auspices of the digital Action Plan Project, led by senior engineering personnel from the Independent Television Commission, with whom the Communications Commission staff are liaising.


As to the choices available now and in the near future, Mr President, may I briefly outline them? All subscribers to the Sky platform have access to all free-to-view digital services. Anyone with a dish and satellite receiver also has access to all the BBC licence-fee-funded services without subscription. The BBC has said that, as part of the BBC digital satellite regional roll-out, it is now providing all of the BBC regions to the whole of the UK and the Isle of Man, as well as trying to provide the most appropriate region at 101 in the Electronic Programme Guide for viewers who have a viewing card, such as Sky subscribers.


At present the digiboxes are programmed with ITV1 regions, so the Isle of Man and Cumbria cannot be separated. This is why Sky subscribers on the Island currently get BBC North East at 101. They can, however, still see BBC North West at 948 in the Electronic Programme Guide, as can nonsubscribers. The BBC has worked with ITV and Channel 4 to agree common regions in the digibox and this will allow Border Television to be the Isle of Man?s ITV region, as at present, as well as getting the North West as default for the BBC. It is now up to Sky to implement these changes, which are quite extensive.


Until the late spring this year it was also possible for satellite viewers who are non-Sky subscribers to obtain a ?Solus? card to decrypt free-to-view services such as Channels 3, 4 and 5. Programmes are encrypted to prevent their reception in areas where the broadcasters do not hold the rights. When the BBC moved to completely unencrypted broadcasts, but using a narrower beam to prevent unauthorised reception, it no longer had any reason to fund the Solus cards. These cards will, however, be re-introduced in the next few months by Channels 3, 4 and 5 working together. It is expected there will be a small one-off charge for the new cards, but it will mean that non-Sky subscribers will be able to view those services by satellite once again.


There is, therefore, a range of options for those who wish to view more than the four main public service channels. It is possible to subscribe to Sky. That brings with it a subsidised dish installation and receiver. It is possible to obtain a dish and receiver and view all the unencrypted BBC services without subscribing to Sky and, in due course, a replacement for the Solus card will be available to decrypt the other free-to-view channels.


Mr President, the realities of physics do mean that options which may be desirable are not always available, but I trust that this explanation, sometimes technical though it is, goes some way to clarifying the position."

why does the isle of man get a second rate service while we still have to pay full price.. having just moved here from uk i am very disapointed that we don't get freeview as far as i can tell you are not giving much overlap when you turn off the transmitter why is this...? ?

Kevin: is there some reason you keep posting the same message?

why does the isle of man get a second rate service while we still have to pay full price.. having just moved here from uk i am very disapointed that we don't get freeview as far as i can tell you are not giving much overlap when you turn off the transmitter why is this...?

My daughter has moved to Ramsey (and I may follow in due course). Viewing the location of Glenmaye, it would appear that reception in the low-lying Ramsey area is not possible due to the high ground to the south. Is this correct?
Can anyone tell me which transmitters in England, Scotland and Ireland can be received in Ramsey?

Eric Brett: I'll see what I can find out for you.

What, if any, Free View services are now available in Port Erin or Foxdale area? Is a Solus card or similar still needed to use a Sky Box (with cancelled Sky subscription) to receive BBC 1, BBC2 , ITV and Channel 4? Are any other stations availble to view without Sky Card in either of the 2 areas mentioned?

Jackie Karran: Please put your postcode into Find out how to receive Freeview | ukfree.tv - independent digital TV and switchover advice - no card is required for BBC or ITV channels; however a £20 "FreesatfromSky" is required for some channels (C4, five, Sky Three) - see All free-to-watch channels | ukfree.tv - independent digital TV and switchover advice