Home Freeview Updates

Freeview Updates

by M6051008

Last reviewed 29/07/2020

Keep up-to-date with the latest updates to the UK’s digital terrestrial television service, Freeview. Updates will be posted, usually within 72 hours of occurrence.

Any updates highlighted in yellow are only applicable to newer Freeview receivers (Freeview HD / Freeview Play).

UPCOMING

12th August: Freeview regional retune: North West England and North East Wales  Details…


HISTORY OF CHANNEL UPDATES

Minor changes to broadcast hours are not routinely logged.

29th July 2020:

  • Channel 34 – Merit begins broadcasting (2100-0000) Moves from COM4/SDN to COM7.
  • Channel 89 – Together TV+1 goes off air between 2100-0000 to make way for Merit on COM7.
  • Channel 98 – NEW Country Music Entertainment (G_MAN) Manchester only
  • Channel 211 – Ketchup/Yaaas demerge
  • Channel 212 – Yaaas! relaunches as a standalone service

8th July 2020:

  • Channel 34 – NEW Merit (COM4/SDN)
  • Channel 58 – ITV3+1 moved from channel 34 (COM4/SDN)
  • Channel 78 – RE-ADDED Now 70s in the Manchester area only (G-MAN)
  • Channel 97 – ITVBe+1 moved from channel 58 (COM4/SDN)

30th June 2020:

  • Channel 23 – CCXTV moved from COM5/ArqA to COM4/SDN.
  • Channel 78 – REMOVED NOW 70s (COM5/ArqA)
  • Channel 85 – Hochanda moved from COM4/SDN to COM5/ArqA.
  • Channel 94 – NEW Ideal Extra (Local/Comux)
  • Channel 681 – REMOVED – ADULT Studio 66 [old version] (COM4/SDN).
  • COM8 multiplex signal switched off.

22nd June 2020:

  • Channel 55 – CLOSED 5Star+1 (COM8)
  • Channel 56 – CLOSED 5USA+1 (COM7)
  • Channel 64 – FreeSports has moved from COM8 to COM7.
  • Channel 67 – CLOSED CBS Reality+1 (COM7)
  • Channel 69 – CLOSED CBS Justice+1 (COM8)
  • Channel 74 – Shopping Quarter has moved from COM7 to PSB3/BBC-B
  • Channel 83 – Now 80s has moved from COM8 to COM7.
  • Channel 89 – Together+1 has moved from COM8 to COM7.
  • Channel 93 – PBS America+1 has moved from COM8 to COM7.
  • Channel 96 – Forces TV has moved from COM8 to COM7.
  • Channel 106 – BBC Four HD has moved from COM8 to COM7.
  • Channel 109 – CLOSED Channel 4+1 HD (COM7)
  • Channel 110 – CLOSED 4seven HD (COM7)
  • Channel 111 – QVC HD has moved from COM8 to COM7.
  • Channel 112 – QVC Beauty HD has moved from COM8 to COM7.
  • Channel 114 – Quest HD has moved from COM8 to COM7.
  • Channel 115 – CLOSED TJC HD (COM7)
  • Channel 205 – CBeebies HD has moved from COM8 to COM7.

On retuning, old versions of channels that are moving will appear in the 780s range and will be discontinued at the end of the week.

18th June 2020:

  • Channel 92 – Pick+1 has closed on Freeview (COM7)

2nd June 2020

  • Channel 672 – REMOVED Adult Smile TV2 (COM6-ArqB)
  • Channel 679 – NEW Studio 66 [new version] (COM6-ArqB)
  • Channel 681 – MOVED FROM 679 Studio 66 [old version] (COM4-SDN)
  • Channel 716 – Greatest Hits Radio has replaced Heat (COM6-ArqB)
  • Channels 792-794 – Sony Movies, 4Music and 4seven – dual transmissions end.



26th May 2020

  • Channel 78 – NOW 70s has closed on Freeview. (COM5-ArqA)
  • Channel 88 – Together has resumed normal broadcast hours. (COM5-ArqA)



13th May 2020

  • Channel 29 – 4Music has moved from COM6-ArqB to COM5-ArqA.
  • Channel 47 – 4Seven has moved from COM6-ArqB to COM5-ArqA.
  • Channel 84 – Now 90s relaunches for viewers in the Manchester area only. (G_MAN)
  • Channel 87 – Spotlight TV closes for viewers in the Manchester area only. (G_MAN)
  • Channel 211/212 – Ketchup / Yaaas! Merging to a single portal on channel 211.
  • Channel 265/266 – Planet Knowledge / Sports Channel Network Merging to a single portal on called On-demand 365 on channel 265.
  • Channel 672 – Adult Smile 2 closes (COM6-ArqB)

 



15th April 2020

  • Channel 23 – CCXTV (COM5-ArqA) has moved from channel 95, swapping with Create and Craft.
  • Channel 32 – Sony Movies has moved from COM5-ArqA to COM6-ArqB.
  • Channel 75 – Yesterday+1 has arrived on COM5-ArqA.
  • Channel 94 – Paramount+1 (COM7) has been removed after failing to launch on Freeview.
  • Channel 95 – Create and Craft  has moved from channel 23, swapping with CCX TV.
  • Channel 733 – Trans World Radio has moved from COM7 to COM5-ArqA and  become more widely available on Freeview.



12th March 2020

  • North Yorkshire and Teesside: A frequency change has taken place. Affected viewers should retune if they have any missing services. Visit www.freeview.co.uk/help/tv-changes for more information and details of support options available to viewers who are unable to restore channels.



5th March 2020

Dual transmission of Smithsonian Channel on old and new frequencies has ceased. Viewers who have lost the channel should now find it on channel 57 following a retune. Some older receivers may have assigned the new copy of the channel a number in the 800s.





4th March 2020

  • East Midlands, East Yorks & Lincolnshire, Belfast A frequency change has taken place. Affected viewers should retune if they have any missing services. Visit www.freeview.co.uk/help/tv-changes for more information and details of support options available to viewers who are unable to restore channels.



26th February 2020

  • Channel 23 – Create and Craft has moved from COM5-Arq to COM4-SDN 
  • Channel 73 – Sewing Quarter has become Jewellery Maker (COM6-Arqiva)
  • Channel 74 – Jewellery Maker has become Shopping Quarter (COM7)
  • Channel 75 – Channel removal (Scotland only) – BBC Four has moved  (PSB1-BBC)
  • Channel 84 – Now 90s has moved to channel 78 and renamed to  Now 70s (COM5-Arqiva)
  • Channel 95 – CCXTV has been allocated a Freeview channel number but is yet to launch (COM5-Arqiva)
  • Channel 719 – (West Midlands region only) BBC C&W renames to BBC CWR (PSB1-BBC)



20th February 2020

  • Cheshire, Lancashire, Liverpool, Manchester area  A frequency change has taken place. Affected viewers should retune if they have any missing services. Visit www.freeview.co.uk/help/tv-changes for more information and details of support options available to viewers who are unable to restore channels.



14th February 2020

  • Channel 73 – Sewing Quarter (COM6-Arqiva) is now showing “Sewing Street”.





12th February 2020

  • Bradford, Keighley, Idle, Scarborough,  Bedfordshire, East Buckinghamshire, North Hertfordshire, Northamptonshire,  Cambridgeshire: A frequency change has taken place. Affected viewers should retune if they have any missing services. Visit www.freeview.co.uk/help/tv-changes for more information and details of support options available to viewers who are unable to restore channels.



11th February 2020

  • A technical change has occurred affecting the COM8 Freeview multiplex. No action is required from viewers. The FEC has changed from 2/3 to 1/2, resulting in more robust reception.





5th February 2020

  • Yorkshire, Lincolnshire, North Midlands and Creake (Norfolk): A frequency change has taken place. Affected viewers should retune  if they have any missing services.  Some channels including BBC News HD, Quest HD, Forces TV and FreeSports will no longer be available in parts of the Sheffield area. Visit www.freeview.co.uk/help/tv-changes for more information and details of support options available to viewers who are unable to restore channels.

21st January 2020

  • Channel 42 – Home renames to HGTV.
  • Copies of Together and TJC have now been removed following earlier frequency changes. Retune if you don’t see Together on 89 or TJC on 49.

7th January 2020

  • Channel 31 – Paramount Network has moved from 54 (COM4-SDN).  5Spike has closed.
  • Channel 50 – Sony Movies Christmas has become Sony Movies Classic (Local-Comux) (not available in all areas).
  • Channel 54 – 5SELECT has moved from 55 (COM4-SDN).
  • Channel 55 – 5STAR+1 has moved from 56 (COM8).
  • Channel 56 – 5USA+1 has moved from 57 (COM8). 
  • Channel 57 – Smithsonian Channel has moved from 99 and becomes more widely available. (Multiplex move from COM7 to COM5-Arqiva).
  • Channel 62 – Sony Movies Christmas+1 has become Sony Movies Classic+1 (Manchester only)
  • New Channel launch: Channel 69 – CBS Justice+1  (COM8-Arqiva)
  • Channel 83 – NOW XMAS to be officially relabelled NOW 80s (it already reverted back to 80s music on 27th Dec)
  • New Channel launch: Channel 94 – Paramount Network+1  (COM7-Arqiva)

6th January 2020

  • Channel 49 – TJC has moved from COM5-Arqiva to COM4-SDN. Retune to keep viewing. Old version moves to channel 791.
  • Channel 65 / 794 – TBN has completed its multiplex change from COM5-Arqiva to PSB3-BBC. Now only available on newer devices via Freeview 65 following a retune.
  • Channel 790 – PBS America (Old version) COM8 is removed





27th December 2019

  • Channel 83 – NOW Xmas is now showing  NOW 80s but won’t get relabelled to NOW 80s until after the Christmas break. (COM8)



5th December 2019

  • Channel 65 – TBN has started a transition from COM5 to PSB3-BBC. TBN will broadcast on both old and new frequencies until early January 2020. The new TBN UK slot is only available to viewers with Freeview HD, Freeview Play and YouView devices. The old copy will move to channel 794 on retuning.
  • Channel 212 – Yaaas!  (Streamed channel for children) has been added to COM4-SDN. Compatible connected devices only. Operated by VOD365.
  • Channel 793 – E4+1 the old copy has been removed from COM5-Arqiva following its move earlier this month to PSB2-D3&4.





27th November 2019

  • Channel 115 – TJC HD has been added to COM7.
  • Angus, Dundee, Perth: A frequency change has taken place. Affected viewers should retune if they have any missing services. Visit www.freeview.co.uk/tvchanges for more information.



20th November 2019

  • Channel 68 (Scotland only) – BBC Four has moved from channel 75 (PSB1-BBC)
  • Channel 75 (Scotland only) – relabelled BBC Four has moved with an information slate (PSB1-BBC)
  • Channel 72 – Quest Red+1 has moved from channel 78 (COM7)
  • Channel 83 – NOW 80s  has become NOW Xmas (COM8)
  • Channel 88 – Together TV has moved from channel 89 (COM5-Arqiva)
  • Channel 89 – Together TV+1 has moved from channel 93 (COM8)
  • Channel 91 – PBS America has moved from COM8 to COM6-Arqiva. New broadcast hours 1300-2300 and now available in more homes.
  • Channel 93 –  PBS America+1 has been added to COM8

19th November 2019

Viewers who haven’t retuned since 14th November will have lost E4+1 as of 1200 GMT. Retune to reinstate E4+1 on channel 28.

14th November 2019

  • Channel 28 – E4+1 has moved from COM5-Arq to PSB2-D3&4. It is now available from all relay transmitters.



13th November 2019

  • North East England: A frequency change has taken place. Affected viewers should retune in the morning if they have any missing services.  Some channels including BBC News HD, Quest HD, Forces TV and FreeSports will no longer be available in the Fenham area. Visit www.freeview.co.uk/help/tv-changes for more information and details of support options available to viewers who are unable to restore channels.

12th November 2019

  • Testing – E4+1 (PSB2-D3&4) ahead of multiplex move on 14th November 2019.



5th November 2019

  • There has been a change in the coverage of Film4+1 and More4+1 on Freeview. Viewers who haven’t retuned will continue to receive the channels in their old positions until 11th November 2019. These channels will no longer be available on relay transmitters once the changeover period has expired.
  • Channel 45 – Film4+1 has moved from PSB2 – D3&4 to COM5 – Arqiva
  • Channel 86 – More4+1 has moved from PSB3 – BBC to COM7 – Arqiva
  • Channel 89 – Together TV – COM5-Arq has changed to the new broadcast hours of 0700-0300.



1st November 2019

  • Channel 71 – CBS Drama (COM6 – Arqiva) goes full-time.




23rd October 2019

  • North West England, Yorkshire and Lincolnshire: A frequency change has taken place. Affected viewers should retune if they have any missing services. Visit www.freeview.co.uk/tvchanges for more information.

16th October 2019

  • South East England: A frequency change has taken place. Affected viewers should retune if they have any missing services. Visit www.freeview.co.uk/tvchanges for more information.

15th October 2019

  • Channel 72 – Your TV (COM5 – Arqiva) removed following the channel’s cessation of broadcasts on the 27th September 2019.

2nd October 2019

  • Channel 85 – Hochanda (COM4 – SDN)  goes full-time.

1st October 2019

  • Manchester only: Channel removal – Channel 68 and 69 True Crime & +1 (GMAN – MTN)
  • Manchester only: Channel 88 moved to 82 – Clubland TV (GMAN – MTN) 
  • Channel 84 – NOW 90s has moved from COM8-Arqiva to COM5-Arqiva and is now streaming its content to viewers with compatible connected devices.



27th September 2019

  • Channel 72 – Your TV (COM5 – Arqiva) channel has ceased broadcasting on Freeview and other platforms following a decision by the broadcaster to close the channel.



25th September 2019

  • Channel 76 Quest+1 has moved from COM4 – SDN to COM5 – Arqiva and goes full-time.



12th September 2019

  • Tyne and Wear, County Durham: A frequency change has taken place. Affected viewers should retune if they have any missing services. Visit www.freeview.co.uk/tvchanges for more information.

10th September 2019

  • Channel 32 – Sony Movie Channel is now Sony Movies (COM5-Arqiva)
  • Channel 40 – Movies4Men is now Sony Movies Action (COM4-SDN) [not Wales]
  • Channel 48 – True Entertainment is now Sony Channel (Local-Comux) [limited UK coverage]
  • Channel 60 – Sony Movies+1 (Local-Comux) Was previously on channel 61
  • Channel 61 – Sony Channel+1 (Manchester only)



4th September 2019

  • Northern Ireland: A frequency change has taken place. Affected viewers should retune if they have any missing services. Visit www.freeview.co.uk/tvchanges for more information.



29th August 2019

  • Channel removal – channel 270 Loveworld (COM4 – SDN)





27th August 2019

  • Channel suspension – Channel 84 NOW 90s (COM8 – Arqiva) has suspended programming on Freeview.



21st August 2019

  • Scotland only: 82 moved to 75 – BBC Four SD (PSB1 – BBC)
  • Scotland only: 115 moved to 108 – BBC Scotland HD (PSB3 – BBC)



14th August 2019

  • Scottish Borders and parts of Central Scotland: A frequency change has taken place. Affected viewers should retune if they have any missing services. Visit www.freeview.co.uk/tvchanges for more information.

31st July 2019

  • Cumbria, Dumfries and Galloway: A frequency change has taken place. Affected viewers should retune if they have any missing services. A number of channels, including BBC Four HD, PBS America, FreeSports, Forces TV and 4seven HD will no longer be available in the area. Visit www.freeview.co.uk/tvchanges for more information.

29th July 2019

  • New channel launch – 271 Channelbox (COM4 – SDN) This is a streamed channel portal for compatible, connected Freeview devices.

22nd July 2019

  • Channel removals – 602-606 BBC Red Button (COM8 – Arqiva); 790 True Entertainment (COM5 – Arqiva); 791 True Movies (COM6- Arqiva); 794 Movies4Men (COM5-Arqiva); 268 BoxNation (COM4 – SDN)
  • Channel change – 89 Together (moves from COM8 to COM5)
  • New channel launch – 93 Together+1 (COM8)