Nordic broadcaster Viaplay is consolidating its channel offer ahead of the completion of the sale of its UK assets to Premier Sports.
- Viaplay Xtra, which started out as Freesports, will be deleted from channel lists.
- Already axed from Samsung TV Plus line-up.
- Channel changes for Viaplay 1 and 2 on Sky satellite.
- No change to subscriptions.
Viaplay is in the process of closing its Viaplay Xtra sports channel, confirming why the channel had been removed this week from Samsung TV Plus.
Sky has now announced it will delist the channel (ch.420) from its Sky Q/Sky+HD receivers on Thursday morning (25th January). Virgin Media has yet to confirm the exact time it will delist channel 553; the cable and streaming TV provider usually changes its channel list at midnight.
Viaplay Xtra previously offered live and pre-recorded coverage of mostly minority sports and international leagues on satellite, cable and streaming services. It was also the only Viaplay UK channel also available on streaming service Samsung TV Plus.
The channel suddenly disappeared from the Samsung TV Plus sports section this week, after a period of time without carrying programme guide information. There had been no prior announcement.
Sky satellite changes – 25th January
As a result of the closure, Viaplay moves its two remaining channels together on Sky’s Electronic Programme Guide (EPG). Viaplay 2 will take over Viaplay Xtra’s channel number.
- Viaplay Sports 1 will move from Sky Q / Sky+HD channel 412 to 419.
- Viaplay Sports 2 will move from Sky Q / Sky+HD channel 419 to 420.
As part of the changes, Viaplay is understood to have sold Sky EPG slot 412 in the UK before the channels themselves are sold. The new owner of the EPG slot hasn’t yet been confirmed.
Premier Sports hold the EPG slot in the Republic of Ireland, having never sold their Irish business to Viaplay. Viewers in the Republic are not affected by the changes in the UK.
Premier Sports takeover
Late last year, it was confirmed that Viaplay would be selling its UK channels back to original owner Premier Sports. The Ireland-based sports broadcaster had only sold the channels to Viaplay a year earlier, before Viaplay buckled under financial pressure.
The remaining Viaplay channels will rebrand back to Premier Sports 1 and 2 this year.
Viaplay subscribers not affected, but still in limbo
Viaplay Xtra’s demise won’t affect current subscription costs. The channel was effectively a bonus channel, offered at no extra charge. On satellite, the channel remained free-to-air, but not listed on Freesat, thanks the channel’s origin. Prior to Viaplay’s takeover, the channel was known as Freesports.
Viaplay subscribers are due to be migrated across to Premier Sports this year.
Viaplay has still not disclosed when the change will occur. It also hasn’t yet confirmed what will happen to subscribers to its Films and Series package when it exits the UK market. It is still accepting new subscribers though.
FreeSports / Viaplay Xtra: 2017-2024
Freesports launched on Freeview in 2017, launching in the aftermath of various attempts to run a free-to-air sports channel on the platform. Prior to Freesports, Motors TV and Front Runner TV had both tried and failed to establish themselves on Freeview.
A reduction in Freeview capacity in 2022, when frequencies were handed to use by 5G networks, hearlded the end for Freesports. Despite a Freeview slot on existing capacity becoming available in mid-2022, owner Premier Sports opted not to secure the slot. Instead, weeks later it confirmed it would be selling Freesports and Premier Sports 1 and 2 to Viaplay.
Marc Thornham