Options
Area with most analog terrestrial channels
![[Deleted User]](https://w0.vanillicon.com/v2/01db0495e1014f7b1b57ac3a70fd8dee.svg)
[Deleted User]
Posts: 80 Forum Member
✭
Prior to its switch off a few years ago, which area in the UK was able to receive the most analog stations? This includes foreign overspill networks, RSL stations and different BBC/ITV regions. My known record currently stands at 10 in Strabane, which could in the 2000s get the 5 British channels, a local station (C9TV), and four Irish channels. Were there any places that could get more (what about Belfast, North Wales or Dover)?
For most areas, what number of available slots could you find? Would you just find the local versions of the national 4/5 stations, or also find regional variants and poor quality picture local stations?
In addition, if Ofcom also hadn't charged such huge fees for a broadcasting licence, how many channels could have theoretically been broadcast on the PAL analog platform? The tuning range goes from 21 to 68 (47), but due to overspill from various transmitters, what number would have actually been possible through the air?
For most areas, what number of available slots could you find? Would you just find the local versions of the national 4/5 stations, or also find regional variants and poor quality picture local stations?
In addition, if Ofcom also hadn't charged such huge fees for a broadcasting licence, how many channels could have theoretically been broadcast on the PAL analog platform? The tuning range goes from 21 to 68 (47), but due to overspill from various transmitters, what number would have actually been possible through the air?
0
Comments
BBC 1 Wales
BBC 1 West
TWW Wales
TWW General Service
Westward
ATV
and in some places Southern TV
If bands 1 & 3 had been used then 1 or 2 extra channels could have been fitted in like in Ireland.
Swindon is one place I know that could get different regions at one point, it might still be possible even now in the right places.
The regions are HTV West, Oxford for what was central, Meridian so that would have been 3 BBC and 3 ITV regions with channel 4, channel 5 and BBC 2 which I suppose was also regionalised on analogue 11 different positions to tune into!
I think it is still possible to get both Oxford and Mendip in Swindon other regions might be too weak now.
I was going back to the good old VHF days - they were all ITV contractors, TWW had Wales and the west, Westward Plymouth and ATV the Midlands. Southern came from Southampton. There was also a company called Teledu Cymru which broadcast to west and north Wales but went bust after it was discovered most of their potential viewers were sheep.
What about French, Belgian or even Dutch channels in Kent or Sussex? I've heard that British channels could be picked up in Holland, so it should have been possible the other way round...?
Holland and Belgium are extensively cabled and BBC1 and 2 are available on all the cable networks, also in parts of northern France and Spain.I used to stay regularly in a hotel in Calais which had BBC but not ITV. One day I asked why they didn't have ITV. ''No-one has ever asked for it'' I was told
How was it better?
I wonder why no one asked for ITV
I would steer clear of it just for Ninja Warrior UK! :eek:
Because most people who stay in hotels accept the channels they get and do not ask for others, Have you ever stayed in a hotel and made a request at reception for different TV channels to what are provided
Google ITV history you might find it interesting
It did not effect the old analog satellite so much but that never had channels BBC 1 , ITV , or 4 on.
Also when Five started it were also very snowy until the digital switch over and now signals 100% most the time even being able to get London CP much better now & Dover transmitters.
The picture is just far better on both satellite & freeview these days and no more VHS tapes.
South Lincs, North Cambridgeshire & West Norfolk - Central/BBC East Midlands, Anglia/BBC East, Yorkshire/BBC North
South Essex & North Kent - Carlton/LWT/BBC London, Meridian/BBC South East, Anglia/BBC East
Parts of Berkshire & North Hampshire - Meridian/BBC South, Carlton/LWT/BBC London, Central/BBC Oxford
Wrexham/South Cheshire area - Granada/BBC North West, Central/BBC Midlands, HTV/BBC Wales
Luton/Dunstable/Aylesbury area - Anglia/BBC East, Carlton/LWT/BBC London, Central/BBC Oxford
Northampton - Central West/BBC Midlands, Central East/BBC East Midlands, Central South/BBC Oxford plus Anglia/BBC East
What was ATV ?
Because quantity does not equal quality. Nowadays most channels are very poor in quality. ITV, for example, was more innovative and interesting than it is now.
ATV or Associated TeleVision provided ITV to the Midlands from Birmingham before Central took over the franchise. It also provided ITV to London during the weekends in the early days.
When ATV became Central it had to move its production base to Birmingham so soid off the Elstree studios to the BBC who made it the home of EE.
I think you're right on saying that. Here in West Swindon we get our signal from Mendip, and was always (analog) noise free. I have a memory that back when analog was operating, we could get a weak Oxford signal, however none of the others. Probably not helped that our aerial pointed at Mendip!
On a similar topic, does anyone remember where could get the fewest channels in the UK? I'd be guessing somewhere in Wales, the Pennines, the Peak District or Scotland. Wikipedia claims that 99% could get 4 channels, but where is somewhere that got fewer?
AFAIK nowhere. I think by the late 80s all the relays carried the main four channels.