Freeview has completed its biggest channel reshuffle since 2020. 60 channels now have new channel numbers.
On Wednesday 26th January 2022, many of Freeview’s entertainment, lifestyle, factual and teleshopping channels move down to new channel numbers. The reshuffle also follows minor changes on 19th January, when Paramount Network became 5ACTION.
The Freeview channel reshuffle accommodates the return of BBC Three, which starts broadcasting on Tuesday 1st February. Ofcom has ordered platform operators to assign the service a top 24 slot on the channel list within 18 months of BBC Three returning. Freeview is acting immediately, and clearing channel 23 to facilitate this change.
Which channels changed positions on 26th January?
Services between channel 23 and 82 moved down the list. This affected channels including Dave Ja Vu right down to Talking Pictures and Together TV.
| OLD NUMBER | NEW CHANNEL NUMBER | SERVICE NAME |
| – | 23 | BBC Three SD |
| 23 | 25 | Dave Ja Vu |
| 25 | 26 | ITV4 |
| 26 | 27 | Yesterday |
| 27 | 28 | ITVBe |
| 28 | 29 | ITV2+1 |
| 29 | 30 | E4+1 |
| 30 | 31 | 4Music |
| 31 | 32 | 5STAR |
| 32 | 33 | 5ACTION* |
| 33 | 34 | GREAT! movies |
| 34 | 35 | ITV+1 in England, Wales, IoM and Scottish Borders. STV+1 in Central & Northern Scotland. UTV+1 in Northern Ireland. |
| 35 | 36 | Pick |
| 36 | 37 | QVC Beauty |
| 37 | 38 | QVC Style |
| 38 | 39 | DMAX |
| 39 | 40 | Quest Red |
| 40 | 41 | CBS Justice |
| 41 | 42 | GREAT! movies action (not Wales) |
| 42 | 43 | Food Network |
| 43 | 44 | HGTV |
| 44 | 45 | Gems TV |
| 45 | 46 | Channel 5+1 |
| 46 | 47 | Film4+1 |
| 47 | 48 | Challenge |
| 48 | 49 | 4seven |
| 49 | 50 | GREAT! tv (not available in all areas) |
| 50 | 51 | Ideal World** |
| 51 | 52 | GREAT! movies classic (not available in all areas) |
| 52 | 53 | TG4 (Northern Ireland only) |
| 53 | 54 | RTÉ One (Northern Ireland only) |
| 54 | 55 | RTÉ 2 (Northern Ireland only) |
| 55 | 56 | 5SELECT |
| 56 | 57 | Smithsonian Channel |
| 57 | 58 | ITVBe+1 |
| 58 | 59 | ITV3+1 |
| 59 | 60 | ITV4+1 |
| 60 | 61 | GREAT! movies+1 (not available in all areas) |
| 61 | 62 | GREAT! tv+1 (Manchester only) |
| 62 | 63 | GREAT! movies classic+1 (Manchester only) |
| 63 | 64 | Blaze |
| 64 | 65 | FreeSports |
| 65 | 66 | TBN UK |
| 66 | 67 | CBS Reality |
| 67 | 68 | CBS Drama |
| 68 | 69 | Horror |
| 69 | 70 | Quest+1 |
| 70 | 71 | Quest Red+1 |
| 71 | 72 | Jewellery Maker |
| 72 | 73 | Shopping Quarter |
| 73 | 74 | Drama+1 |
| 74 | 75 | Yesterday+1 |
| 75 | 76 | NOW 70s |
| 76 | 77 | NOW 80s |
| 77 | 78 | TCC |
| 78 | 79 | NOW 90s |
| 79 | 80 | Clubland TV |
| 80 | 81 | Blaze+1 |
| 81 | 82 | Talking Pictures |
| 82 | 83 | Together |
| 84 | 84 | PBS America |
| – | 109 | BBC Three HD |
| – | 110 | S4C HD*** |
Is support/help available?
Freeview is offering help and support. Its website includes a number of retuning videos for each type of TV, showing how to complete an automatic retune.
Some newer smart TVs and receivers are able to adjust automatically to the new channel numbers. A retune will ensure that all available Freeview channels, including BBC Three, appear in the channel list.
What if I don’t retune?
You may not be able to receive all available Freeview channels. But your existing channels will remain in the same place, if your TV doesn’t automatically adjust channel numbers. You may find that some TVs will add new services in the 800 channel range instead.
The last major channel reshuffle took place in November 2020. At the time, many services were also moved down one channel number. That change facilitated another Ofcom requirement, allowing BBC Four in Scotland to take channel 24. At the time, services lost their long-standing Freeview channel numbers, with ITV+1 losing channel 33, for example.
First published on 12/01/2022. Republished on 26/01/2022 to change from future to past tense.