The launch of UKTV’s W channel on Monday 28th March will have a knock-on-effect on a number of Freeview channels.
W is due to go live on Freeview as part of a wider free-to-air/free-to-stream relaunch for the channel.
As a result, Freeview channel 25 will switch from showing Dave Ja Vu – Dave’s +1 channel – to W at around midday on Monday 28th March.
Meanwhile, Freeview channel 74 – the current home of Drama+1 – will switch from Drama+1 to Dave Ja Vu at the same time, straight after Monday morning’s classic Holby City episode. Drama+1 is due to move to another slot on Freeview. It will become available on channel 60.
25 – Dave Ja Vu will turn into W
74 – Drama+1 will turn into Dave Ja Vu
60 – Drama+1’s new slot. Currently in use by ITV4+1 placeholder, but will have reduced UK coverage.
Other changes
Updated 22nd March It’s been confirmed that Freeview will also make a number of other changes on the platform at the same time. This will affect some minor channels and HD services in Wales.
Further details are now available on our dedicated information page.
Will I need to retune because of the Freeview channel reshuffle?
If you’re not interested in some of the minor Freeview channels, the good news is that W and Dave Ja Vu will continue to be available without a retune. Channels 25 and 74 should seamlessly switch from one service to another.
Some TVs may however continue to show the old channel names on channel 25 and 74 until a rescan is completed.
Unfortunately, now that Freeview has confirmed additional changes, you’ll will now need to retune for any of the other channel changes taking place on the same day. However, outside of Wales, these mostly affect minor channels, so it isn’t urgent if you need someone to assist you or you don’t like retuning your TV.
Seamless switch
UKTV did a similar retune-less channel change at the beginning of 2021 when it originally launched Drama+1 on Freeview. At the time, Drama+1 simply took over from CCXTV. On the day of the changeover, the feed on the channel switched from showing CCXTV to Drama+1 without viewers needing to retune.
In preparation for the change, CCXTV had already moved down the channel list, so anyone who had retuned a few months earlier didn’t need to retune or rescan again, unless their TV still showed the old channel name.
Updated 13:59 22/03/2022