Freeview TV Channels
Digital television is dependent on which digital TV platform you are watching. On-island Freeview transmitters currently transmit up to 25 TV channels (including all public service channels) plus other radio and information channels.
If you are tuned to an off-island Freeview transmitter, you may be able to receive around 55 TV channels plus radio and information services. However its worth noting that the signal may not be as strong.
If you want to check out what channels you should be receiving you can visit the Freeview Coverage Checker website.
There is more than one way to receive a television signal, the below are the different ways you can receive a signal:
- Digital Terrestrial TV (DTT) via Freeview (from on and off-island transmitters),
- Digital Satellite TV via Freesat or Sky
- TV over the Internet via services such as on BBC iPlayer, ITV Player, All4 or Demand Five
Mast Locations on the Isle of Man
This is a list of where transmitters are located on the Island.
- Kimmeragh
- Jurby
- Ramsey
- Laxey
- Bearey Park
- Glen Maye
- Foxdale
- Union Mills
- Douglas
- Port St Mary
If you have an issue with your Freeview, you should take the following steps:
- Log onto the Freeview website and insert your postcode and house number in the box titled “Check Freeview at my home”
- This will load a new page, showing the most likely transmitter being used at your property. You can click on “detailed view” to find out what coverage you can expect from other transmitters.
- In the Isle of Man you will usually pick up around 25-30 channels. A quick way of establishing whether you are on the right transmitter is to check if you are receiving Granada News. If you receive any other news channel such as Border news, you will be receiving the signal from the wrong transmitter and this is probably why you are receiving poor signal.
- If you need to change transmitter there is helpful guidance on the Freeview website.
The BBC is responsible for investigating complaints of interference to domestic radio and television. Potential causes of interference inside the home can include central heating thermostats, fridge-freezers and some dimmer switches, for example on halogen lights. Under some circumstances, radio or other electrical equipment outside your home can also cause interference.
Before reporting interference to the BBC, you should check your TV or Radio installation to ensure it is operating correctly. In some cases, faults such as poor aerial connections, can be the cause of the interference. For further assistance you should contact a qualified aerial specialist, preferably a member of the Confederation of Aerial Industries, will be able to check for you (see the Yellow Pages under ‘TV & Radio Aerial Services’) or contact your satellite provider.
If you receive television from a communal aerial system, for example you live in a block of flats; you should contact your landlord or aerial contractor for help.
If there appears to be a transmitter problem you can also get advice and information on planned engineering works from http://www.digitaluk.co.uk/operations/planned_engineering_works or you can contact the broadcaster concerned (e.g. ITV or the BBC). If you are still having problems the http://www.bbc.co.uk/reception/ will provide you with more information and enable you to ask the BBC to investigate the problem.