• News
    • Broadcasting
    • Cable
    • Digital Life
    • Online
    • Satellite
    • Terrestrial
  • Channels
    • through a TV aerial (Freeview/Saorview)
    • through a satellite dish
      • Freesat channel list UK
      • Sky channel list (UK EPG)
    • through cable (Virgin Media UK)
    • with YouView
      • BT TV Channel List
      • TalkTalk TV Channel List
  • Platform guides
    • Freeview and Freeview Play
    • Freesat
    • Sky
    • Virgin Media
    • YouView
  • Logs and data
    • BBC local radio via Freeview
    • Freeview Updates
    • Freeview regional retune days
    • UHF channels and centre frequencies
  • Guides
    • How to manually retune your Sky box
    • What is HbbTV?
Twitter
RXTV infoRXTV info
NEWS
  • Ten Freeview channels that benefitted from COM7
  • BT Sport retains exclusive Europa League, but must share Champions League games
  • Amazon Prime to deliver Tuesday night Champions League games
  • News
    • Broadcasting
    • Cable
    • Digital Life
    • Online
    • Satellite
    • Terrestrial
  • Channels
    • through a TV aerial (Freeview/Saorview)
    • through a satellite dish
      • Freesat channel list UK
      • Sky channel list (UK EPG)
    • through cable (Virgin Media UK)
    • with YouView
      • BT TV Channel List
      • TalkTalk TV Channel List
  • Platform guides
    • Freeview and Freeview Play
    • Freesat
    • Sky
    • Virgin Media
    • YouView
  • Logs and data
    • BBC local radio via Freeview
    • Freeview Updates
    • Freeview regional retune days
    • UHF channels and centre frequencies
  • Guides
    • How to manually retune your Sky box
    • What is HbbTV?
Twitter
RXTV infoRXTV info
Home»Terrestrial»The end of regional anomalies on Freeview HD
Terrestrial

The end of regional anomalies on Freeview HD

2 January 2022
remote control

For many Freeview HD viewers in England, regional news is either for the wrong region or non-existent. That’s because of the limitations of the Freeview HD service as it’s currently set-up. But not for much longer.

As 2022 starts, some Freeview viewers receive the wrong ITV regional news service in HD, while BBC One HD shows the red screen during regional opt-outs. Channel 4 HD meanwhile is a simulcast of the London ad region in all areas.

The BBC is preparing for the launch of BBC One HD regions on Freeview; it aims to complete this work later this year. As a result, changes to the way regional HD services are distributed need to happen.

HD versions of BBC channels, plus ITV, STV, Channel 4 and 5 are bundled together on a dedicated multiplex, operated by the BBC. The multiplex only has limited regionality, something that will change soon to enable a regional BBC One HD. Changes made to the multiplex by the BBC will benefit all broadcasters carried on the multiplex.

At the moment, there are just four regional variations in England. This allows ITV to carry a limited number of regional services on Freeview HD. But this set-up means viewers in Bideford in Devon receive the news from ITV Central in Birmingham in HD. Meanwhile, viewers in Sunderland see ITV Granada from Salford instead of Tyne Tees on Freeview HD channel 103.

Current HD regions on Freeview

The map shows the regional structure at the beginning of 2022 on Freeview HD

AreaITV region(s)ITV HD regionOther variations*
1LondonLondon
2Meridian; AngliaMeridian SE
3Central; West CountryCentral West
4Granada; Yorkshire; Tyne Tees; Border EnglandGranada
5WalesWalesBBC One Wales HD; BBC Two Wales HD; in planning: S4C HD
6Border ScotlandGranadaBBC One Scotland; BBC Scotland HD
7STV (all sub-regions)STV WestBBC One Scotland; BBC Scotland HD
8UTVUTVBBC One NI HD; BBC Two NI HD
9Channel Islands(no ITV HD)
* where no variations appear, viewers receive BBC One HD with red screen during regional news and BBC Two HD network. Channel 4 HD is the London ad region in all areas.

The areas listed above have been numbered by us to make the breakdown clearer; they are not an official designation. The map is derived from the ITV regions map.


To be able to add a regional BBC One HD service on Freeview, areas 2-4 need to be broken down in to smaller areas. Such a change to the regional structure on Freeview HD also removes the barriers stopping ITV HD from offering a more regionalised service, to bring it in line with what satellite and cable viewers currently see. And it paves the way for Channel 4 to be able to show regional advertising in both SD and HD.

Where a BBC region isn’t yet fully able to broadcast in HD, regional news will be upscaled. This is because various equipment from the studio and up through the broadcast chain need to be ready for HD.

What next?

Beyond confirming a target of the end of 2022, more precise timescales aren’t yet in the open.

The broadcasters and Freeview will notify viewers of any action required when new regional HD services go live in their area.

featured Features Freeview
Share. Facebook Twitter LinkedIn WhatsApp Reddit Email
Previous ArticleDon’t Look Up drives Xmas streamers to Netflix
Next Article BBC funding settlement due

Related articles

Ten Freeview channels that benefitted from COM7

3 July 2022

BBC to screen Champions League highlights

1 July 2022

Freeview channel switch-off completes

30 June 2022

Comments are closed.

Latest…
  • Ten Freeview channels that benefitted from COM7
  • BT Sport retains exclusive Europa League, but must share Champions League games
  • Amazon Prime to deliver Tuesday night Champions League games
  • BBC to screen Champions League highlights
  • TVPlayer loses Channel 5, MTV and more

RXTV info | Covering the reception and distribution of UK terrestrial TV (Freeview), cable, satellite and connected TV services for users and installers.

Freeview changes

30th June 2022

  • Channel 41 | Horror is replaced by Legend [COM4/SDN]
  • Channel 65 | FreeSports closes [COM7].
  • Channel 65 | That’s TV UK moves to this channel number.
  • Channel 68 | CBS Drama renames to Reality Xtra and changes multiplex [COM6/ArqB moving to Local/Comux].
  • Channel 69 | CBS Justice is closing [COM6/ArqB]
  • Channel 77 | NOW 80s moves from multiplex COM7 to G_MAN. Coverage in Manchester only.
  • Channel 87 | PBS America+1 closes [COM7]. The main PBS America channel continues on 84.
  • Channel 91 | Classic Hits (formerly That’s Music) moves to this channel number and moves from COM7 to COM6/ArqB.

Other Freeview channel updates…

Satellite
  • Astra 1N, 19.2°E 12604 H (SR22000, FEC 5/6, DVB-S, QPSK) Bloomberg Europe New frequency.  SID 7200.  [Old version on  Astra 1L, 19.2°E 11597 V carries label advising to retune.]
  • Astra 2F, 28.2°E 12226 V (SR27500, FEC 2/3, DVB-S2, 8PSK) BBC Two Northern Ireland HD test transmissions (Service ID 11015/1199)
  • Astra 2E, 28.5°E 11836 H (SR 27500, FEC 5/6) Sky News Ireland new frequency (SID: 5406)

Saorview: Irish DTT  | How to manually tune Sky box | Sky Glass channel list |  UHF channels and centre frequencies

 

Twitter
  • About
  • Cookie & Privacy Policy
© 2022 RXTV Info AIS

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.

We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of cookies.
ACCEPTCookie settingsRead More
Manage consent

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Non-necessary
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies.
SAVE & ACCEPT