As well as being available on Sky's satellite TV service, Channel M will now be available on digital terrestrial when analogue terrestrial TV is switched off in the Manchester region.
Channel M will transmit on part of the TV spectrum that will be freed-up after the digital television switchover in 2012.
The part of the spectrum Channel M will be broadcast on is used as a buffer between television transmitters to prevent them interfering with each other's broadcast. Low power users such as regional television can use these spectra without causing interference.
Lord Carter's interim Digital Britain report last week proposed that regional publishers, supported by public funds, could play a greater role in local news provision as ITV cuts local news.
Ruth Spratt, managing director of MEN Media, Channel M's owner, told Media Week that MEN media would "talk about" providing local news provision supported by the proposed public funds.
The next award of interleaved spectrum will be for the Cardiff area later this month. Ofcom has said it could offer further small packages of interleaved spectrum, suitable for local television, roughly one year ahead of digital switchover in each region.
Spratt said GMG was not looking to expand to other cities in the current economic climate, but added she would welcome other regional channels GMG could potentially partner with for trading. Spratt said: "If there were city TV stations in London and Birmingham, then there could be a network which buyers could use when trading."
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