Virgin Media is the last of the main platforms to add BBC Three to its programme guide, resulting in a change of channel numbers for other BBC services in some parts of the UK.
From Tuesday 1st February, cable viewers in England and Northern Ireland will access BBC Three HD on Virgin Media channel 107. In Scotland and Wales, BBC Three HD relaunches on channel 157.
As a result, BBC Four moves to Virgin Media channel 108 in England and Northern Ireland. BBC Four remains on channel 107 in Scotland and Northern Ireland.
In preparation for the change, BBC One HD in England moved from channel 108 to 101 on Wednesday 26th January, when it became fully regionalised.
How BBC services are affected by Virgin Media’s reshuffle:
Changes from 1st February, unless stated
ENGLAND AND NORTHERN IRELAND
Old channel number | New channel number | Service Name | Comments |
---|---|---|---|
108 | 101 | BBC One HD | England only. Changed 26/01/22. |
— | 107 | BBC Three HD | |
107 | 108 | BBC Four HD |
SCOTLAND AND WALES
Old channel number | New channel number | Service Name | Comments |
---|---|---|---|
107 | 107 | BBC Four HD | No change. |
108 | 108 | BBC Scotland HD | Scotland only. No change. |
108 | 108 | Channel 4 | Wales only. No change |
— | 157 | BBC Three HD |
Series links
Changes to the way BBC Four is broadcast Virgin Media mean that series links created on Virgin 360 boxes before last week will now no longer work. With immediate effect, BBC Four has four separate IDs on Virgin Media’s network to facilitate different channel numbers in different nations. The changes also futureproof against further reshuffles. BBC One SD has now closed, meaning old series links also need changing.
Virgin Media is required by Ofcom to allocate BBC Three a top 24 slot in its Electronic Programme Guide across all of the UK by summer 2023. This means BBC Three’s current channel number in Scotland and Wales will only be temporary.
BBC Three is also available on satellite and terrestrial TV services, where the service was added last week ahead of its launch.