Channel 4 pre-1993 regional opt outs

The IBA were forced to divert a signifiant amount of resources into adding S4C transmitters at all existing sites, and at launch only 5 or 6 small relays remained to be converted. This was because BBC Welsh language programmes transferred to S4C, and therefore you're into PSB access etc

This meant that many sites in England, Scotland, and NI did not receive C4 from day 1.

I don't think any relay stations carried it, other than the new ones that had come on stream during 1982.

From memory main sites that didn't carry C4 from day 1 were:-

Redruth, Huntshaw, Beacon Hill, Midhurst, Bluebell Hill (came on line Dec 82) Heathfield, The Wrekin, Ridge Hill, Chatton, Selkirk, Craigkelly, Rosemarkie, (and everything north and west) Nothing in NI except Divis.

The IBA made sure that at least one transmitter in each ITV region carried C4 from the outset

Confirmed Redruth wasn't in the launch batch. Erected a supplementary antenna for Caradon Hill, albeit with ropey signal. It came in handy for OnDigital later too.

Indeed. I spent three months living in Redruth (the town, not the tx !) Summer 1983, I could receive C4 audio only from Caradon Hill, just enough to keep tabs on Broookside !

Redruth got C4 in Oct 83 I think ?

Thanks.
Did the regions advertise extensions to the service when more of their viewers got access.

I can remember TVS plugging the addition of Midhurst in 1984

One evening in early 1983, there was an announcement at startup where the Channel 4 announcer, David Stranks, said “a special hello to viewers in Edinburgh who are receiving us for the very first time”. This is the only time I recall hearing such an announcement by Channel 4 itself, although new relays were coming on air all the time during the first couple of years.

Yes, they probably wouldn't have mentioned relays, (unless perhaps large ones such as Guildford or Sheffield) and it took until December 1987 for C4 to reach parity with BBC/ITV. Final site was Gunnislake on the Devon/Cornwall border. That's why ITV schools didn't transfer to C4 until Sept 87

My recollection is of Channel 4 coming to Reigate around the end of January 1985. We were never supposed to get Channel 5 at all on analogue but they squeezed that one in in 2003.

Yes, very odd for C5 to be investing in new analogue transmitters, 5 years after digital platforms had launched.

They added Reigate, Hastings, Brighton, and Tunbridge Wells. Guildford was on the list too, but never happened because they couldn't get clearance for using UHF Ch 36 (still being used for radar at a couple of airfields, though the big one at Heathrow had ceased in the 90s I think)