Viewers using Freeview and Freely will see an early monthly channel update on Wednesday 10 December, marking the final round of changes before the Christmas and New Year period.
The usual update cycle changes in December and early January to avoid making changes to close to the holidays.
Confirmed changes in this update include the removal of the POP Player streaming app from both platforms. Owner Narrative Entertainment is closing the on-demand service as it shifts its children’s content to linear streaming channels, known as FAST (Free, Ad-Supported Television). These will continue to stream on compatible Freeview devices, plus Freely*.
Freely users operating their devices in internet-only mode will also gain access to factual entertainment channel Blaze for the first time this coming week. Blaze will appear on channel 41 once the update is pushed to devices. Hybrid users, with both aerial and internet connections, already receive Blaze via digital terrestrial broadcast. The change comes earlier than originally announced – it was first billed as coming in 2026.
This December update concludes a year of channel additions and removals ahead of the annual “platform freeze,” when operators pause changes over the holiday period. Freeview typically updates its line-up on the second to last Wednesday of each month (typically the third Wednesday). Freely’s updates are more flexible, combining software and channel changes, but is influenced by changes to the digital terrestrial TV service when a device is in hybrid mode.
Recent out-of-cycle additions to Freely include the launch of CNN Headlines, two ITVX streaming channels and the arrival of Talking Pictures to viewers in internet-only mode.
Ofcom confirms licence renewal for Freeview HD multiplex
The clock had been running down on the broadcast licence permitting the BBC to carry HD channels on Freeview. Broadcast regulator Ofcom confirmed on Friday it had renewed the licence – the final such licence to be renewed by Ofcom under powers awarded it by the Government. This means Freeview HD channels will continue broadcasting for now during 2026. However, detailed industry plans for the future of Freeview will be released next year, which will outline how some services may change in the coming years.
Normal update cycles resume in January
Updates will resume in January, when seasonal channels revert to their standard formats. There will also be an update when WBD launches TLC on free-to-air platforms.
Changes across both platforms are coordinated by Everyone TV, the organisation owned by the UK’s main public service broadcasters. A regular cycle of coordinated updates were originally introduced to minimise the need for viewers to retune their Freeview TVs.
A full round-up of changes will be published on the Freeview Updates page after Wednesday.
*The POP channels are part of a group of services available when a Freely device is plugged into an aerial. This is known as receiving Freely in “hybrid mode”.
By: Marc Thornham