Narrative Entertainment, which operates the GREAT! network has unveiled plans to launch a new factual reality Freeview channel this March.
- New GREAT! Real channel will launch on both Sky and Freeview
- Wall-to-wall unscripted content, featuring real life human interest stories.
- Will launch on Freeview channel 61.
Narrative Entertainment has announced it’s expanding its GREAT! network of channels with the arrival of GREAT! Real on Wednesday 20th March 2024.
Viewers will already be familiar with its existing sister channels, including GREAT! movies (channel 34) and GREAT! tv (channel 50). However, GREAT! Real will become the company’s first channel that features unscripted shows, with a schedule full of real-life human interest stories
What’s on?
GREAT! Real will feature unscripted reality/factual shows including:
- Heathrow: Britain’s Busiest Airport
- Paddington Station 24/7
- Island Medics;
- Emergency Rescue: Air, Land and Sea
- Coast Guard Alaska.
Where will the channel be available?
GREAT! Real will be made available to both Freeview and Sky viewers. On Freeview, the GREAT! Real will launch on channel 61. Viewers may need to retune on 20th March to receive the channel.
Among Sky viewers, this will include both Sky Glass/Stream and Sky satellite. There will also be a +1 copy of the channel on satellite. Channel numbers are yet to be confirmed.
On-demand content is available via the GREAT! player, which Freeview Play users can find via channel 100.
GREAT! channels aren’t available on Freesat. Carriage on Virgin Media hasn’t been announced at this stage.
Narrative Entertainment had already confirmed changes for the 20th March – the next main Freeview retune date. Last month, it confirmed its children’s channel Tiny Pop will be going online-only from that date. Tiny Pop is currently only available in some areas on Freeview and its currently unclear if GREAT! Real will take Tiny Pop’s limited-reach Freeview slot, or join its sister channels with nationwide carriage. RXTV has approached Narrative’s PR for clarification.
The expansion follows a highly successful past year which saw the GREAT! Network’s share of commercial impacts rise 29% year-on-year compared to -1% for the wider TV market. The addition of GREAT! Real will provide audiences with a wider variety of viewing options across the network.
Steve Hornsey, Narrative Entertainment’s VP Movies & Entertainment, says
“Narrative Entertainment is excited to invite even more new viewers to enjoy our growing GREAT! Network with the addition of GREAT! Real, our first channel dedicated to non-scripted storytelling. With an array of observational series focusing on dramatic real-life events and human stories, GREAT! Real will take audiences to the heart of the action with an exciting, engaging and relatable content mix that perfectly complements our existing brands.”
Marc Thornham
[Image: Narrative Entertainment]
Updated 11/03/2024 with Freeview channel number