BBC Three: where to find it on your TV

BBC Three is being shoehorned back on to TV platforms. As it can’t return to its pre-2016 channel numbers, the channel’s availability will vary across the UK.

Ofcom has ordered TV platform operators like Sky and Freeview to allocate the channel a top 24 slot on their listings. But where there is no top 24 slot available, platform operators have up to 18 months to create a slot. In some cases, BBC Three will appear below BBC Four in the channel list.

As a result, you’ll find BBC Three on the following channel numbers.

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Why is BBC Three HD not available on Freeview channel 109 in Scotland and Wales?

The BBC has limited bandwidth for Freeview HD channels. HD channels already take up more bandwidth than SD channels.

In Scotland, the bandwidth is already used by BBC Scotland HD. In Wales, the bandwidth is already used by S4C HD.

The limitations also affect YouView (BT/TalkTalk) as both services piggyback off Freeview.

Viewers in Scotland and Wales can see still see BBC Three in standard definition on channel 23, or in HD via Sky, Freesat, Virgin Media or iPlayer.

Why is BBC Three on a different Sky channel number in London?

Sky channel 117 is already used by London Live in the capital. There are no other empty slots near the top of the channel list. Ofcom has required Sky and other platform operators to find a top 24 slot for BBC Three within 18 months of it launching; therefore the current arrangement is only temporary.

Why is BBC Four before BBC Three on my TV?

On some TV platforms, BBC Three comes after BBC Four. The allocation of a channel number for BBC Three follows an Ofcom consultation last year, which invited responses from rival broadcasters and platform operators. They were invited to comment about any potential commercial impacts resulting from the BBC restoring BBC Three.

A number of respondents were not keen on the idea of BBC Three being allowed to leapfrog BBC Four. For example, Channel 4 was concerned about the commercial impact of such a move (it would have allowed BBC Three to leapfrog E4 on Freeview, for example).

Is BBC Three available in the Republic of Ireland?

A version of BBC Three is available for Irish operators who can take the channel on a commercial basis. As of launch night, BBC Three isn’t yet available in the Republic of Ireland, but it can be manually tuned in via satellite using Sky’s Other Channels menu.

First published 24/01/2022. Republished with additional FAQ 01/02/2022.