Free-to-air satellite TV platform Freesat has started October with a surprise channel update, with up to 19 channels moving to a new location on the channel list.
- Channels including Sky Arts, Sky Mix HD, Quest HD have changed positions.
- The move fills in gaps in the channel list that were created when some services left the platform.
Freesat has completed a major reshuffle of its entertainment channels. Freesat satellite receivers were issued an update to their Electronic Programme Guide on Tuesday morning.
As a result, 19 channels from broadcasters including Sky, Warner Bros Discovery (WBD) and Hearst (formerly A+E Networks) move to new channel numbers.
The reshuffle fills in gaps that have formed in the channel list over the last decade. The gaps were created when channels including Smithsonian and BET closed.
In addition to shuffling up the channel guide, WBD has grouped its +1 channels in a new section, starting from channel 151. That’s a change to the norm on Freesat, where many +1 channels are often found next to their parent channel. Consequently, some +1 channels have moved down the list. For example, Food Network+1 is no longer next to the main Food Network channel, but on 154.
Notably, the channel update also vacates channel 160 for the impending launch of U&Eden, which joins free-to-air platforms soon.
Freesat had not warned viewers of the major change. It only posted an update on its website around two hours after the changes took place.
▶ Overview: Freesat channel update – 1st October
| Old number | New number | Channel name |
|---|---|---|
| 141 | 140 | 5STAR+1 |
| 144 | 141 | Sky Mix HD |
| 146 | 142 | Challenge |
| 147 | 143 | Sky Arts |
| 167 | 144 | QUEST HD |
| 160 | 145 | Really |
| 169 | 146 | QUEST RED |
| 150 | 147 | DMAX |
| 148 | 148 | Food Network (no change) |
| 166 | 149 | HGTV |
| 172 | 150 | QUEST SD |
| 168 | 151 | QUEST+1 |
| 170 | 152 | QUEST RED+1 |
| 151 | 153 | DMAX+1 |
| 149 | 154 | Food Network+1 |
| 155-159 | 155-159 | no changes |
| — | 160 | reserved for U&Eden, coming soon to Freesat. |
| 162 | 161 | BLAZE |
| 164 | 162 | Together TV |
| 177 | 163 | Court TV |
| 178 | 164 | That’s TV |
| 181 | 165 | That’s TV2 |
The full set of Freesat channels are only available on newer Freesat HD and 4K UHD receivers. Following changes to the way most satellite TV services are broadcast, older SD-only boxes can no longer receiver many channels.
By: Marc Thornham | Image: Freesat 4K Box remote (Freesat promotional image) | Updated: 12:17