Border Television

After a seven-month delay due to transmitter construction issues, Border TV launched on September 1, 1961. The franchise served Cumbria, parts of Northumberland in England, and Southern Scotland. Coverage was expanded to include the Isle of Man on March 26, 1965. In the early 1980s, financial constraints led Border to contemplate not renewing its franchise. The station became iconic for hosting the quiz show ‘Mr & Mrs’ helmed by Derek Batey, Border’s Assistant Controller of Programmes.

In March 2000, Capital Radio emerged victorious in a heated competition to acquire Border TV. However, Capital subsequently sold the station to Granada later that same year. In 2009, the ITV Border news programme was consolidated with ITV Tyne Tees, leading to the closure of the Carlisle studio. Yet, within five years, news services were reinstated in the region. Although the Isle of Man was transferred to ITV Granada in 2009, ITV Border continued to broadcast to the island’s northern region.

In 2013, ITV Border resumed operations with a scaled-down service. While ‘Lookaround’ is still produced from Gateshead, a smaller studio in North Carlisle now serves as a hub for news bulletins and editing.