Freeview has confirmed four HD channels will leave the platform as capacity is cut to make way for more 5G services.
After 11am on Thursday 30th June, Quest HD, QVC HD and QVC Beauty HD and BBC News HD channels will leave Freeview. All four channels will continue in standard definition only on the platform.
The channels are closing because the licence to run the seventh national multiplex COM7 is expiring. The frequency needs to be cleared so it can be reused for 5G Mobile services.
With the exception of QVC Beauty HD, all channels can continue to be received in HD on a free-to-air basis through Freesat. Sky and Virgin Media offer all affected channels in HD. The BBC iPlayer includes a high quality feed of BBC News, depending on internet speed.
Not all channels currently broadcasting on COM7 will close at the end of the month. BBC Four HD, Quest Red+1 and That’s TV are among those services that have secured one the remaining limited slots on alternative capacity. Meanwhile, it’s also been confirmed FreeSports will close at the same time.
HD channels remaining on Freeview
- 101 BBC One HD (Regionalised BBC One HD in England due by early 2023.)
- 102 BBC Two HD
- 103 ITV HD (not Channel Islands)
- 104 Channel 4 HD (S4C HD in Wales)
- 105 Channel 5 HD
- 106 BBC Four HD (will require a retune, will become widely available on Freeview from midday on 29th June)
- 108 BBC Scotland HD (Scotland only)
- 109 BBC Three HD (Not Wales or Scotland)
- 110 Channel 4 HD (in Wales)
- 204 CBBC HD
- 205 CBeebies HD (will require a retune, will become more widely available on Freeview from midday on 29th June)
For a full overview of all the changes taking place on Freeview on both 29th and 30th June 2022, please see our full guide to the changes.