Channel M now on SKy 203

Channel M, television exclusively for Greater Manchester, Manchesters dedicated TV station operated by the Guardian Media Group is now available nationwide on Sky Channel 203. Also available on NTL in the Greater Manchester area on channel 26 and terrestrial Ch39. Watch Channel M for all news, entertainment, music, sport, lifestyle and culture in greater Manchester.

Channel m News

Join Andy Crane as he brings you the latest and ONLY news bulletin dedicated for and about Greater Manchester - every weekday at five from the Urbis in the City centre. Including local news headlines and reports, sport and entertainment.

I Love Manchester

Join Steph Elmore as she tours Greater Manchester's prominent buildings, hidden gems and history. See how Manchester's history, people, architecture and award winning tourist attractions have inspired the U.K and the rest of the world.

Every Wednesday with repeats throughout the week

Mon 11.30am & 7.00pm, Tue 12.30 pm 7.30pm, Wed 12 noon,
Thu 8.00pm, Sat 1.00pm & 6.30pm, Sun 12.30pm & 5.30pm

City Life


Channel M brings you a weekly entertainments round-up show, featuring the best of what's happening in and around Manchester. Presented by Byron Evans.

Friday 7.00pm & 11pm, Saturday 12.30 pm & 5.00pm, Sunday 12.00 noon & 6.30pm

4 Manchester

Gerard Mclouglhin presents an hour long show featuring current music videos as well as guests, performance and special features.

Weekdays 4pm

Code XIII


Code Thirteen, Channel M's Rugby League programme, highlighting Salford City Reds with features on Swinton Lions, Oldham Roughyeds, Rochdale Hornets, Leigh Centurions ,Wigan Warriors and the local BARLA clubs. Presented by Barney.

Thursday 7.00pm & 9.30 pm, Friday 9.00pm, Saturday 5.30pm

FC United


A mix of action from ALL matches played the previous month and featuring player interviews, fan opinions and a look behind the scenes at one of the most talked about non-league football team in the world! Presented by Matt Critchley

Monthly show - Last Monday of the month at 7pm

Talking Sharks

Talking Sharks keeps you up to date with table-topping Sale Sharks as we follow them home and away getting instant reaction from the players and fans and debate all the issues affecting the Club. Presenter Mike Bradley.

Wednesday at 7pm repeated Thursday 12 noon and 11.30 pm, Friday at 10 pm, Saturdays 12pm & 6pm.

More programmes planned throughout the year.

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God, Andy Crane used to be famous. Now he's stuck on Channel M. woop.

It's launched already?!

Yup... has been on there since just after 10am yesterday morning. I'm not sure yet whether it's better or worse than the other RSL I've seen - The Oxford Channel - as I haven't really sat down to watch Channel M, but as they've got Andy Crane on it, it's got to be good!

Yesterday seemed to have been a mini-relaunch day for Channel M, with it now being available to the best part of 9 Million homes, though hopefully it's addition on Sky should definately boost up the ratings in the Manchester area, one hopes.

I've been watching since the station has been on NTL, which it was added in about August 2004, and I'm pleased to see the station grow and get more noticed. Yes it's hardly top-notch Television and seems to show alot of CHUM Material from Canada, but the amount of Manchester produced programming is growing year on year, with more to come later in the year.

Channel M News is worth a watch, it does quite well considering the limited resources of the station and Andy Crane isn't a bad Newsreader either, though there tends to be alot of Vox pops within the programme, it isn't too bad, it does make a change from watching the BBC or ITV Local News, but the standard isn't as high, it is getting better.

Luckily the station's owners; The Guardian Media Group are putting a long term investment into the channel, it currently has a 5 year deal to be at Urbis (much to the annoyance of the BBC, as tax payers money was spent here) and plans to expand the local material, including a Breakfast programme in the Autumn, it is also expanding the amount of people who work at Channel M News, which can only be a good thing. Plus it tends to share alot with the Manchester Evening News (Newspaper) which helps the station a bit.

AIUI GMG were going to put a bid in last year when Ofcom announced a new FM Licence for Manchester, and the bid was going under as Channel M Radio, but GMG pulled out and this went to GCap and now they've launched Xfm Manchester, though it would have been good if they had a Channel M Radio, it would have been something different.

They should have set up a self-op news studio to save a bit of cash - Andy would have felt at home there

Funny you should say that, though it's not quite self-op, AIUI it's a small room within the Urbis building, one camera and one plasma. I believe the space is open to the public when there's nothing being filmed.

Or walk round one of the busy shopping streets within Manchester City Centre on a weekday morning and there's a chance you can meet the man yourself, and maybe even do a vox pop.

(Often lurks at the Arndale end of Market Street)

And watching for around 10 mins last night, I notice they aston the name of all people they voxpop.
That's something that the BBC and ITV local news never do.

Was sitting in Urbis cafe last Friday afternoon, glanced round and saw Andy Crane wandering past on his way (presumably) to the Channel M area.




Thought I'd just do a bit of minor name dropping

Is there anyone else who presents the news or is it just Andy?

And occasionally when it is being filmed - I was watching it the other week and there was a right load of screaming and shouting in the background! Of course, Super Cool Andy kept it going without flinching.

It's usually Andy Crane, but he tends to only take at most 3 or 4 weeks off per year, if not then back up presenters tend to include Clare Fallon and (BBC Radio Manchester's) Becky Want.

When I'm next in Manchester, I might pop into Urbis, I've yet to do so, for the exhibits of course.