In addition to the expected arrival of classic entertainment channel Rewind TV, other new services have launched on the platform.
- Rewind TV now live on channel 95.
- Sonlife available on channel 96.
- Streaming service Wedo Movies joins on channel 275.
Freeview’s monthly channel update for September completed at just before 11:30 on Wednesday morning, bringing viewers extra new channels.
As planned, Rewind TV made its debut on channel 95, with classic 1980s ITV sitcom Watching first to be available to Freeview audiences. Rewind TV first launched on Sky’s satellite TV earlier this year.
Meanwhile, religious channel Sonlife is now available as a traditional broadcast service on Freeview channel 96. The channel was already part of the Freeview line-up, but as a hybrid streaming channel, which required internet access.
Movie streaming channel Wedo Movies has been added to Freeview channel 275. Viewers with a connected Freeview Play or Freeview HD TV can now watch a range of movies directly via its standalone channel. Wedo Movies made its Freeview debut in 2023 as one of the channels available through the Channelbox portal on Freeview 271.
Channels that have left Freeview
Mech+, the streaming home of Robot Wars, has left channel 276.
GREAT! real, the short-lived factual channel which closed in August, has been deleted from channel 61. It closed to make way for the return of children’s channel Tiny POP.
Viewers may need to retune their TVs or Freeview boxes to gain access to the latest new additions. Availability of these Freeview channels is subject to local coverage.
Rewind TV has taken over the Freeview capacity previously used by the short-lived EarthxTV and Seen On TV channels. Sonlife is using newly created capacity following a technological upgrade that’s allowing Freeview multiplex operator to carry 17 concurrent streams per multiplex. The slot previously used by TalkTV before it went streaming-only is still unused.
By: Marc Thornham | image: Screengrab – Rewind TV on Freeview