Three services have now been deleted from the Freeview channel list in the December update, including vintage and independent film channel FilmStream.
- Final scheduled Freeview update ahead of the Christmas and New Year break.
- December Freeview update follows changes to the way some channels are carried on Freeview.
Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) platform Freeview has completed its latest monthly channel update, earlier than normal due to the impending Christmas and New Year break. The December update tidies the Freeview channel list up after some broadcasters made changes last week.
FilmStream gone from Freeview
FilmStream, which launched on Freeview with a blitz of press releases back in March, has now left the platform after less than nine months on-air. The channel offered viewers a range of vintage movies alongside newer, independent movies. It originally launched on channel 269 before moving to 257 in the summer. The channel was operated by SPI, a subsidary of French media company Canal+.
Although FilmStream is no longer available on Freeview, it does continue on other streaming TV platforms.
POP children’s channel changes
Children’s channel POP Max has also been deleted from Freeview. The channel was only available in some areas on the platform and was most recently available on 206.
This follows the end of regular broadcast distribution of POP channels on Freeview at the stroke of midnight into 1st December. Since then, POP, Tiny POP and POP Max have been distributed on Freeview as hybrid streaming channels, but even then only in certain parts of the UK.
Tiny POP, which has switched back to being a hybrid streaming channel has moved from 208 to 206. Meanwhile, POP Player has moved to 208.
POP Player is geographically more widely distributed on Freeview. Viewers who can’t access POP or Tiny POP on Freeview can access on-demand content on POP Player instead.
Following its collapse into administration, Create and Craft has now officially lost its Freeview broadcast channel (channel 85).
In the new year, Freeview’s platform operator Everyone TV is expected to allow Create & Craft’s channel number to be filled by broadcasters shuffling up to fill the slot.
▶ Overview of Freeview channel changes – 10th December 2024
This month’s scheduled update is earlier than normal. Monthly updates normally take place on the 3rd Wednesday of the month. A platform freeze is in place over Christmas and New Year. Channel updates will resume early in the new year.
No longer available
- 85: Create and Craft (COM6/ArqB)
- 206: POP MAX (Comux/Local)
- 257: FilmStream (COM4/SDN)
Channel moves
- 206: Tiny POP (Comux/Local) has moved from channel 208 to 206.
- 208: POP Player (Comux/Local) has moved from channel 211 to 208.
Freely
However, for viewers with a smart TV that supports Freely and is also plugged into an aerial, the following changes apply:
- Removed: POP Max (channel 354), Create and Craft (channel 458), FilmStream (channel 559).
- Moved: Tiny POP (from 359 to channel 354), POP Player (from 361 to channel 359).
By: Marc Thornham | Image: Collage. Freeview logo: DTV Services Ltd