Further Freeview channels are now broadcasting from the new Bilsdale transmitter mast, covering North Yorkshire, Teesside and parts of County Durham, ending nearly two years of reception trouble for over 500,000 households.
Mast operator Arqiva confirmed the successful installation of new antenna enabling more channels to move across to the just over 300 metre high mast on the moors. Freeview HD services are now once again available to all viewers with compatible devices.
Originally, Arqiva advised it was restoring “core” channels first when it began the transfer of services in May. At the time it warned that some viewers would temporarily lose Freeview HD channels.
Freeview TV coverage has now been restored to how it was before the fire that destroyed the original mast in August 2021 – with one exception. Since 2021, the UK’s seventh national multiplex COM7 has closed down, meaning the new Bilsdale mast will carry slightly fewer channels than the original mast did before the fire.
One Freeview multiplex – the local TV multiplex, which covers Teesside with channels including Teesside TV, Reality Xtra and GREAT! tv is yet to move across. The local TV multiplex will enjoy wider coverage than pre-fire from its new antenna. Radio services will migrate in the coming weeks.
For the past year, services have been broadcast from a temporary tower, less than a third of the height of the new mast. This meant coverage was previously patchy. As a result, some households were unable to receive the full range of Freeview channels.
Do you need to retune?
- Most viewers won’t need to retune, as the new Bilsdale mast is transmitting on the same frequencies used by the temporary tower.
- Only viewers who are permanently missing channels should retune. (Current high pressure weather conditions may result in the temporary loss of services, but the advice to retune applies to viewers where the signal doesn’t come back.)
- Viewers might be missing channels as a result of Arqiva turning off the network of temporary relays deployed to fill in coverage gaps created in the aftermath of the fire. Retuning enables the TV to scan for signals coming from the new Bilsdale mast.
Following the successful completion of the project to restore Freeview services in the region, Arqiva’s dedicated support line will close on 7th July. Arqiva says anyone still experiencing issues with their TV services relating to the Bilsdale mast should call on 0800 121 4828 before that date.
New Bilsdale mast: UHF channel numbers
(For manual tuning purposes)
| Multiplex name | UHF channel number | Further details |
|---|---|---|
| BBC-A | 27 | The BBC’s main channels in standard definition |
| D3&4 | 24 | ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5 and some off-shoot services. |
| BBC-B HD | 21 | Includes all the main five channels in HD |
| SDN | 43 | A bundle of commercial channels including QVC, 5STAR and Legend. |
| Arqiva A | 46 | A bundle of commercial channels including Sky News, Sky Arts, Dave and 4seven. |
| Arqiva B | 40 | A bundle of commercial channels including HGTV, PBS America and Yesterday. |
Marc Thornham