The BBC has confirmed it plans to roll out new functionality that will move HD versions of its Freeview channels up the channel list.
Later this year, following the completion of regional BBC One HD rollout on Freeview, the BBC is planning to complete a channel guide update that will see HD channels move to the top of the channel list.
According to the plans, BBC One HD will move to channel 1, with other BBC HD channels also moving up and replacing their SD counterparts in the channel list.
But the update will only be available on all newer Freeview Play devices (2020 or later models) that support Channel List Management (CLM).
CLM allows Freeview to offer a channel list that puts HD channels first.
As a result, there will be two different channel lists – the original one delivered over the airwaves for older TVs and boxes, and a second list for post 2020- Freeview Play smart TVs and boxes delivered via the internet.
The CLM update was first promised in 2022, but can only be fully implemented after every regional version of BBC One is available in HD on Freeview.
▶ The BBC has already piloted CLM on some of its Freeview services:
- In late 2020, a pilot saw CBBC HD swap places with its SD counterpart on a limited number of devices.
- On the 19th October 2022, the BBC extended CLM across both children’s channels and announced similar changes for BBC Three and BBC Four. However, RXTV understands not all of the changes were fully implemented.
At the time, the BBC said it planned to rollout further CLM changes later in the year.
How do I know if I have a CLM-compatible Freeview Play TV?
Have CBBC SD and HD swapped places? Is CBBC HD on channel 201 instead of 204? Then you have a TV that is compatible with CLM.
The CLM specs were only introduced in 2020. Only a small number of device models from 2020 include CLM. It became more widespread in models released from 2021.
What happens to the standard definition (SD) channels when CLM is implemented?
Viewers can still access the SD channels, but they will move down the channel list.
On Freeview, SD channels affected by the change will appear in a block above channel 610 in the channel list. It’s a similar “dumping ground” arrangement as used by Sky’ satellite service, where SD channels are offloaded to the 800s. Viewers can still access the SD channels.
The only exception are children’s channels. As is currently the case with CBBC and CBeebies, these directly swap within the children’s channel section. This avoids a situation where children’s channels are dropped in the 600s near the adult channels.
What happens if a CLM-compatible Freeview Play TV isn’t connected to the internet?
In the event of a longer disconnect from the internet, the TV may revert back to the over-the-air channel list. SD channels would then re-appear at the top of the channel list.
What if I don’t have a CLM-compatible Freeview Play TV?
HD channels will continue to be found in the usual channel range from channel 101. SD channels will continue to appear on their current channel numbers.
Older SD-only TVs and boxes are unaffected by these changes.
Marc Thornham