Channel better known for US reality shows relaunches as a free-to-air channel next week with a new schedule. It’s part of a major revamp of Warner Bros Discovery’s TV channel portfolio that will also benefit subscribers of Discovery+.
⬇️ Main points
Comedy arrives on TLC on 13 January
Discovery+ new streaming home of Big Bang Theory
HGTV closing on to make room on Freeview for TLC
Warner Bros Discovery (WBD) is counting down to a mid-month relaunch of its UK channel portfolio. The move takes place ahead of a planned spin-off of traditional linear networks from Warner Bros, due to complete later this year, unless Paramount wins the battle to buy the company.
As part of the changes, first announced last year, TLC will gain hundreds of hours of US sitcoms. HGTV will close, with a selection of its former shows becoming available across Discovery+ and Really.
TLC will launch on Freeview channel 12, triggering a chain of changes. Full details below.
What’s on the new TLC?
If you’ve got Sky or Virgin Media, you’ll know TLC as the channel with wall-to-wall episodes of Say Yes To The Dress, Dr Pimple Popper and My 600lb Life.
That changes at midday on Tuesday 13 January, when sitcoms including Young Sheldon, The Big Bang Theory and Mike and Molly take over the schedule.
TLC is also bringing back Mock The Week this year in a new format.
Movies also feature on TLC for the first time. On Wednesday 14 January, the channel screens the sci-fi action adventure Transformers, starting Shia LeBeouf and Megan Fox at 9pm (repeated the following Saturday). Sequel Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen follows on Sunday 18 January.
Old TLC shows including the aforementioned Dr Pimple Popper will still be available on the channel, but after midnight. Also surviving the changes is 90 Day Fiancé, which gets a primetime slot on Thursday (UK version) and Friday.
TLC’s shows will be available on Discovery+. The Big Bang Theory and Young Sheldon were previously available in the UK and Ireland on E4 and Channel 4 streaming.
What happens to HGTV?
The channel is winding down: UK-based property shows stopped airing on the channel at the beginning of 2026. Schedules continue until 23:59 on Tuesday 13 January featuring a range of HGTV’s USA shows including 100 Day Dream Home and Celebrity IOU.
From Wednesday 14 January, you’ll be able to stream a selection of HGTV shows on Discovery+. Alternatively, sister channel Really will continue to feature a selection of property hunting shows, including Escape to the Country and A Place in the Sun.
WBD’s other free-to-air channels
There’s no major changes to the content on WBD’s other free-to-air channels, which cover a range of reality, lifestyle, factual and true crime shows. Here’s an overview of WBD’s other free channels:
All programmes on these channels are also available via Discovery+.
Quest
Factual/Reality including The Repair Shop, How It’s Made and The Yorkshire Auction House.
Quest Red
Reality/True Crime including Murder on CCTV, Judge Rinder’s Crime Stories and American Monster.
DMAX
Factual/Reality, similar to Quest, including Outback Opal Hunters, Deadliest Catch and Aussie Gold Hunters.
Food Network
Lifestyle/cookery, featuring UK and US chefs including James Martin, Tom Kerridge and the Barefoot Contessa (Ina Garten).
Really
Lifestyle/Reality including Antiques Road Trip, A Place in the Sun and Salvage Hunters. Paranormal content late evenings.
Changes on Freeview, Freesat and Freely
TLC will launch on Freeview, Freesat and Freely in place of HGTV.
At the same time, WBD will be reshuffling its channels around, so that you’ll find them on different channel numbers. The following changes are confirmed:
- TLC will launch on Freeview channel 12 and Freesat channel 144, taking Quest’s channel number.
- Quest will move to Freeview channel 17 and Freesat channel 145, taking Really’s channel number.
- Really will move to Freeview channel 44 and Freesat channel 149, taking over HGTV’s former number.
The exact time of the switchover on 13 January hasn’t yet been confirmed. Notably, HGTV has schedules running up to the end of 13 January, indicating some TV platforms will make changes at slightly different times.
The reshuffle constitutes a change to Freeview’s normal update schedule – updates are normally carried out on a Wednesday. Viewers may need to retune.
Other Freeview changes are being coordinated at the same time to reduce impact on viewers. Technical details of all changes will be posted on Freeview Updates for viewers and installers.
Meanwhile, Freely users will be able to access all of WBD’s Freeview channels via streaming from later this month. Currently, only Freely devices in hybrid mode can access these channels.
By: Marc Thornham | Image: Warner Bros Television/WBD | Updated: 06/01/2025 17:11 with a link to our Freeview Updates page.