Changes to Freeview for ITV Border region
ITV is making technical changes to its Freeview services in the Border TV region.
The change will enhance the service provided by ITV Border and enable separate programmes to be broadcast to ITV Border's two sub-regions (ITV Border Scotland and ITV Border England) from January 2014.
Viewers in Scotland receiving their signal from the Caldbeck Scotland or Selkirk transmitter groups may need to retune their TV equipment on Wednesday, 13 November.
Engineering work is expected to be completed by midday and anyone who finds they are missing ITV Border should retune after this.
Freeview viewers watching English services do not need to retune. Satellite and cable viewers are not affected.
For help with retuning Freeview equipment the Freeview TV Advice Line (provided by Digital UK) will be available on 08456 505050
Or visit this website: **http://www.digitaluk.co.uk/howtoretune/retuning_instructions**
The Freeview TV Advice Line opening hours are:
Mon-Fri 09.00-18.00; Sat 09.00-17.00
Note: On Wednesday 13 November, opening hours will be 09.00-21.00. An out of hours message prompts viewers to select general retuning information, if required.
Border Scotland Retune FAQ's
What is happening in the ITV Border region and why?
Following consultation with Ofcom, the ITV Border region is to be split into two sub-regions for Freeview viewers - Border England and Border Scotland.
The change will enhance the service provided by ITV Border and enable separate programmes to be broadcast to each sub-region in the future.
On 13 November, a background technical update will be made in preparation for the change; there will be no immediate difference to the service received.
The name of the service will remain as ‘ITV Border’ in the Border England and Border Scotland areas.
Who is affected?
The change affects Freeview viewers only. Satellite and cable viewers are not affected.
Freeview viewers using ITV Border Scotland transmitters (Caldbeck Scotland or Selkirk transmitter groups) may need to retune. This affects approximately 134,400 homes.
Freeview viewers using ITV Border England transmitters (Caldbeck England transmitter group) will not need to retune.
What will viewers need to do?
ITV Border viewers in Scotland receiving their signal from the Caldbeck Scotland or Selkirk transmitter groups may need to retune their TV equipment on Wednesday 13 November.
Engineering work is expected to be completed by midday and anyone who finds they are missing ITV Border should retune after this.
Depending on viewers' receiving equipment, the process will either be seamless or equipment will require retuning. Some TVs and digital boxes will respond to the change and retune automatically. Some TVs and digital boxes will not change and viewers will lose ITV Border until they retune.
What assistance and information is being provided for viewers?
On Screen pop up messages on ITV will advise viewers in theaffected area of the forthcoming changes and the need to retune.
The message will prompt viewers to press the Blue button fordetails of the Digital UK retuning advice page here: http://www.digitaluk.co.uk/howtoretune/retuning_instructions
And the Freeview Advice Line phone number: 08456 505050
Calls to 08456 505050 are free with inclusive calling packages from BT and BT charge up to 4p per minute for non-package customers, call charges from other networks or mobile phone networks may vary.
Calls from outside the UK to a UK based 0845 number may vary according to your network provider or mobile operator.
Please check with your network provider for further information.
MHEG POP UPS (On screen captions)
From 11 November the following Pop-up message will appear on ITV Border Scotland:
In preparation for the launch of a new Freeview service for ITV Border viewers in Scotland, you may need to retune your TV or set top box from 13th November to continue viewing ITV Border.
Press the Blue Button for further information.
ITV is making some technical changes on 13 November in preparation for the launch of a new Freeview service for ITV Border viewers in Scotland from January.
You may need to retune if your TV or box doesn't retune automatically.
For help with retuning, go to:
http://www.digitaluk.co.uk/howtoretune/retuning_instructions
or call the Freeview TV Advice Line on 08456 505050
Calls to 08456 505050 are free with inclusive calling packages from BT and BT charge up to 4p per minute for non-package customers, call charges from other networks or mobile phone networks may vary.
Calls from outside the UK to a UK based 0845 number may vary according to your network provider or mobile operator.
Please check with your network provider for further information.
ITV News Border will feature information aboutthe changes, both prior to the event and on the day of the change.
Where can I find more information on re-tuning?
The vast majority of viewers with a Freeview TV or box find re-tuning straight forward and have no difficulties. You should be aware that the menus for each Freeview box, TV and recorder differ slightly.
Here are some steps on how to retune your TV or box:
A full retune should only takes a few minutes and can be done with your remote control. Here are some guidelines for how to do it, but bear in mind every model of digital TV or box will be a little bit different.
Make sure your Freeview TV or box is on and in digital mode, usually by pressing the DTV or digital button on your remote. Then press 'menu'
Select the 'set up' or 'installation' option. If you see picture icons, select the tool box, satellite dish or spanner. If you are prompted for a code, try 0000 or 1234
Select the full retune option. This is sometimes called ‘first time installation’, 'factory reset', 'default settings' or 'shipping conditions'. Do not select 'channel update' or 'add channels'
Press ‘OK’ if your equipment asks if you want to delete all your channels. Don't worry this is normal
Channels will automatically be installed. This may take a few minutes and your equipment may shut down and restart
If you need more information you will find easy-to-followre-tune guides for popular makes and models which can be printed or emailed, http://www.digitaluk.co.uk/howtoretune/retuning_instructions
Friends or family may also be able to help, or speak to yourlocal electrical retailer.
Since retuning, I seem to be receiving the wrong ITV Bordersub-region. What can I do?
In some cases, where transmitter signals overlap, it may be necessary to carry out a manual retune.
A second D3&4 multiplex has been launched at the Caldbeck transmitter to provide one multiplex for viewers in England and another for viewers in Scotland.
Some homes in the Borders can receive services from both England and Scotland, giving them a choice of regional services. Viewers in overlap areas may unintentionally pick up the 'wrong' service if they retune. The alternative service may appear on channel numbers from 800+ in the Freeview guide. Viewers may need to use the manual retune option on their equipment to bring their preferred channels to the top of their programme guide.
If manual tuning is required, the frequencies used for the D3&4 multiplex from each of the main transmitters in the ITV Border area are:
Caldbeck England: UHF channel 28
Caldbeck Scotland: UHF channel 24
Selkirk: UHF channel 59
Details of how to perform a manual retune are available here:
http://www.digitaluk.co.uk/coveragechecker/manual_retuning
I live in Scotland and do not have Freeview. Will I be able to see the new service?
The changes to the ITV Border service affect Freeview viewers only. There are no current plans for the ITV Border Scotland service to appear on satellite.
Sky, Freesat and cable viewers who wish to view ITV Border Scotland should watch via a Freeview TV or box.
What are ITV Border's future regional scheduling plans?
From January 2014, in addition to the regional news, ITV Border will be providing an average of 90 minutes per week of bespoke non-news programming, including current affairs, for broadcast on ITV Border Scotland on Freeview.