As TLC HD moves to Virgin Media’s entry-level subscription tier, a reshuffle of channels brings greater variation to the cable TV line-up, depending on where you live in the UK.
TLC, Quest, Quest Red, Food Network and Really move to new slots on Virgin Media’s TV guide
Viewers in Scotland and Wales will see some services on different channel numbers
Virgin Media has completed a channel update to its TV guide, following in the footsteps of other TV platforms affected by changes to Warner Bros Discovery’s channel line-up.
TLC becomes WBD’s main general entertainment channel and jumps from channel 165 to either channel 113 or 128, depending on where you are in the UK. Quest, Quest Red, Food Network and Really also move to new slots. HGTV (channel 191) closes this evening, with its final hours on hour exclusive to Virgin TV viewers.
The reshuffle creates further regional variations across the UK as a result of Virgin Media utilising channel 113 for TLC HD in England and Northern Ireland only. Channel 113 is already occupied by BBC Three in Scotland and Wales.
From today, TLC HD and TLC+1 become part of the most basic subscription tier, meaning the services are available to all Virgin TV customers in the UK. It’s the home of comedy including The Big Bang Theory. From later this year, it’ll also be the home of Mock The Week and new comedy travel show Zero Stars.
▶️Overview: Virgin Media channel update 13 January 2026
| Channel number | England and Northern Ireland | Scotland and Wales |
|---|---|---|
| 113 | TLC HD | BBC Three HD |
| 128 | Quest HD | TLC HD |
| 137 | Quest Red | Quest HD |
| 146 | — | Quest Red |
| 165 | Really | Really |
| 168 | Food Network | Food Network |
| 169 | DMAX | DMAX |
| 313 | TLC+1 | — |
| 328 | Quest+1 | TLC+1 |
| 337 | — | Quest+1 |
| 365 | Really+1 | Really+1 |
Why are there more regional variations on Virgin Media’s channel list?
EXPLAINER
Virgin Media, like all UK TV platform operators, is required by Ofcom to reserve prominent slots for public service channels. The rules vary, but the key requirement is that the main five channels in each UK nation must appear in the top five positions on the TV guide. Most other public service channels must be placed within the top 24 slots — in Virgin Media’s case, before channel 124.
Scotland and Wales have more public service channels than other parts of the UK. Wales has S4C, while Scotland has BBC Alba and BBC Scotland. (In Northern Ireland, Irish public service channels do not fall under Ofcom’s rules on prominence.)
In Wales, S4C must be placed on channel 4, and Channel 4 itself must still be allocated a slot within the top eight. Additionally, in late 2021 Ofcom also ordered all TV platforms to find a top 24 slot for BBC Three within 18 months of its return to linear TV.
This reduces the number of available positions for commercial channels within Virgin Media’s top 24.
There are two possible approaches to managing this:
- Reserve additional channel numbers for Scotland and Wales, leaving those slots empty in England and Northern Ireland.
- Reserve the same additional numbers, but allow commercial broadcasters to use them in the rest of the UK.
Virgin Media broadly follows second option. As a result, several channels now appear on different numbers depending on where you live. This change creates a knock‑on effect down the guide, reaching as far down as channel 146 — a slot now used in Scotland and Wales but left empty elsewhere.
Virgin Media’s move brings it in line with Sky, which already operates a split channel line‑up for the same regulatory reasons. Both companies have been openly unhappy with Ofcom’s requirement to allocate more top‑24 positions to public service broadcasters. Implementing the rules in a way that increases complexity is arguably one way of making that point. Additionally though, the arrangement means Virgin Media can monetise those otherwise partially empty slots nationwide.
By contrast, Freeview, Freesat and Freely — all owned by public service broadcasters and supportive of Ofcom’s guidance — have largely followed the first approach. This ensures that UK‑wide channels retain the same channel number across the country.
By: Marc Thornham | Image: Virgin Media O2