The first major Freeview update of the year introduces new channels, but also a number of channel changes and deletions. You’ll need to retune to continue watching all available stations in your area.
TLC went live on Freeview at just before 11:30
UKTV’s U&W and U&Dave Ja Vu have changed frequencies
Some services now on reduced coverage
Engineers have completed this month’s main Freeview channel update, which in break from tradition took place on a Wednesday. There was a brief glitch affecting one of the channels on the move, until all planned changes completed just before 11:30 on Tuesday morning.
The change was triggered by Warner Bros Discovery (WBD) relaunching TLC as a general entertainment channel, making it available on Freeview for the first time. HGTV closed, giving way to TLC during an ad-break before Freeview moved the new service to channel 12.
Retune if you’re missing any of these channels, or they appear in the wrong place
- Quest (changed to channel 17)
- Really (changed to channel 44)
- U&W (changed frequency, still assigned to channel 25)
- U&Dave Ja Vu (changed frequency, still assigned to channel 74, but some viewers may no longer receive the channel)
- TLC+1 (New on Freeview channel 99, not available in all areas)
Does not apply to viewers in the Channel Islands, most viewers on the Isle of Man, and viewers in parts of the UK where only the main services from the BBC, ITV, C4 and 5 are available via Freeview.
Meanwhile, streaming channels India Today and God TV joined HGTV in being delisted from Freeview’s channel list.
⬇️ Scroll down for a full overview of changes.
What happened in the background?
To prepare for the changeover from HGTV to TLC on Freeview, both channels simulcast the same episodes of Say Yes To The Dress in a double bill starting at 11:00. In the end, the switch took place during the 11:26 break, meaning viewers seamlessly switched from watching one episode on HGTV to watching the second episode on TLC. At the same time, the feed was moved to channel 12.
Over on U&Dave Ja Vu (channel 74), there was a brief loss of service at 11:00 – the usual time for making changes. After a few minutes, the channel returned back on-air. Then at 11:26, coordinated with all other changes on Freeview, the channel switched to a new frequency. As a result of the change, some viewers will no longer have access to the channel. U&W also changed frequencies at the same time, moving to fill the bandwidth left by U&Dave Ja Vu.
Services with reduced coverage
Timeshift channels U&Dave Ja Vu (channel 74) and TLC+1 (channel 99) have reduced UK coverage.
Specifically, the services are limited to viewers within range of one of the over 30 local TV channels that broadcast on Freeview, plus viewers in the Nottingham area. That’s because both channels now piggyback on the signal that carries local TV channels.
If you receive a local channel on Freeview channel 7 or 8 (depending on area), you should be able to watch both U&Dave Ja Vu and TLC+1 after a retune. You can check channels available at your address via the Freeview postcode checker. Reception of some channels is dependent on your aerial installation.
▶️Overview of Freeview changes: 13th January 2026
New on Freeview
- 12: TLC
- 99: TLC+1 Available in some areas only.
Channel moves
- 17: Quest moves from channel 12
- 44: Really moves from channel 17
Multiplex change
Depending on your device, you may need to retune to continue watching these channel.
- 25: U&W If you haven’t retuned, you’ll see a message advising you to retune. After retuning, this message moves to channel 791.
- 74: U&Dave Ja Vu Limited UK coverage. You may not be able to receive this channel.
No longer available
- 44: HGTV TLC has taken over the feed and moved to channel 12. HGTV is closing today on all television platforms.
- 258: India Today Streaming channel.
- 267: God TV Streaming channel Service had previously ceased broadcasting and is now delisted.
A full overview with multiplex information for advanced users and installers is available on the RXTV Freeview Updates page.
By: Marc Thornham