Freeview Digital TV News Update

HD Channels added to Freeview Lineup

2009-12-02T01:42:00.002Z

Two new channels have just been added to Freeview, to co-incide with today's launch of Freeview HD:

BBC HD - Channel 50
ITV1 HD - Channel 51 (due to launch in 2010)

These have been added to the lineup for Crystal Palace, London. We also expect these to be added to Winter Hill (Manchester/Granada) shortly.

As a reminder, there are no Freeview HD receivers on the market in the UK capable of watching Freeview HD.

More Freeview HD

Babestation 2 on Freeview

2009-11-09T21:49:00.001Z

Babestation 2, another jiggly girl channel, has today been added to the Freeview channel lineup.

If this type of channel floats your boat, it's on Freeview Channel 99.

TMF rebrands to Viva

2009-10-26T19:40:00.001Z

TMF, The Music Factory, on Freeview Channel 21, has today relaunched as "Viva". The new channel, Viva, is part of the MTV brand, and the channel has been repositioned from a music channel to an entertainment channel.

Adult channel changes

2009-10-22T21:28:00.001+01:00

Two minor changes in the 90 adult channel range:

Television X changes from Channel 98 to 93

New channel TMTV (Tease Me TV, from Bang Media) joined on Freeview channel 98.

BBC Red Button Changes

2009-10-22T14:42:00.000+01:00

From the 27th October 2009, the BBC News Multiscreen and the interactive stream (Freeview channel 302) will no longer be available. This is to make room for Freeview HD.

News appears on Freeview Channel 89

2009-10-01T13:32:00.003+01:00

A placeholder for a new channel, simply called "News", has just appeared on Freeview Channel 89.

At this time, we have no information on the plan for "news". Watch this space.

Retune your Freeview on Wednesday

2009-09-30T00:10:00.001+01:00

In order to continue to get all of your Freeview channels, you'll need to perform a channel rescan after midday on Wednesday the 30th September 2009.

The changes will allow around half-a-million Freeview users to get Five for the first time. The Quest documentary channel will become available on channel 38, and a number of channels will be changing number, including Price-drop TV, Super Casino, Rocks and Co, Smile TV2, Babestation and Partyland.

You'll find the new lineup at http://www.radioandtelly.co.uk/freeviewchannels.html

Retuning only takes a few minutes, and you do this Freeview's on-screen menu - look for an option like "Channel setup", "Tuning", or "Scan for Channels".

If you need help rescanning for channels, see the instructions at www.tvretune.co.uk or call the National Freeview Retune helpline on 08456 05 11 22.

More on retuning: http://www.radioandtelly.co.uk/freeviewhelp/retune.html

Babestation joins Freeview

2009-08-28T22:24:00.003+01:00

Babestation has joined Freeview (Channel 42). for those not familiar with Babestation's format, it consists of scantily-clad women jiggling in response to premium rate text messages and voice calls.

Babestation is on-air from 1am to 6am, sharing with Virgin +1

Mobilizer text service added

2009-08-25T19:52:00.003+01:00

A placeholder for a new text service, Mobilizer, has appeared on channel 109. The the catch-line "Mobile Fun 4 Everyone", we don't have info on what this text service will offer, or when it will launch.

Update: Thanks to Robert N for this update on 06 October 09: "I got Mobilizer on BT Vision last night on Channel 109 when I went down the Menu it said No Information Available so I selected it to see what it would do and after a few minutes a Screen came up Mobilizer Loading and then the main screen came up titled Mobile Fun 4 Everyone TXT Rate it Vote for the girl of your Choice"

Price Drop TV to return

2009-08-25T19:36:00.002+01:00

Shopping channel Price Drop TV is set to return to Freeview on the 27th of August. The channel vanished in January 2009, but apparently, pressure from viewers has prompted the channel to make a return.

Price Drop TV will be on Freeview channel 43 from 27 August 2009

Quest TV to launch in September 2009

2009-08-21T19:30:00.001+01:00

After the recent failed launch, Quest, the free documentary channel from Discovery, is set to have another go at launching on Freeview - this time on the 30th of September.

ESPN on Channel 34

2009-08-08T16:52:00.003+01:00

ESPN is now available on Freeview Channel 34. There are three ways to watch ESPN on this channel:

1. Using BT Vision
2. Using Top Up TV
3. Using a box or TV that has a suitable card slot (such as one used for Setanta)

For full details of the options, see http://www.radioandtelly.co.uk/channels/espn.html

Big Deal comes to Freeview

2009-07-15T21:07:00.002+01:00

Another Quiz channel has joined the Freeview lineup. The channel, Big Deal appeared on Freeview channel 37 today, 15th July.

It appears that the channel will be on-air from 10pm to 5am, sharing time with the new hobby channel Create & Craft.

Discovery vanishes from Top Up TV

2009-07-09T13:02:00.000+01:00

Content from Discovery and Discovery Real Time has been removed from the Top Up TV Anytime service as of 7th July 2009. Top Up customers have also recently seen the departure of content from Living, as well as Setanta. Extra content from National Geographic is being provided to fill the Discovery gap.

Create and Craft comes to Freeview

2009-07-01T16:30:00.002+01:00

Create and Craft will reportedly go live on Freeview channel 36 in July. It'll be on from 8am to 1pm Monday to Friday.

Trove placeholder added to Freeview

2009-06-24T22:43:00.002+01:00

A placeholder for a service called Trove has been added to Freeview.

Trove on channel 306 will be an interactive service (games, weather, travel offers and retail).

Rumour has it, a special Trove-enabled Freeview box will be required.

Setanta Sports goes off-air

2009-06-23T19:30:00.000+01:00

Setanta Sports finally pulled the plug on it's UK TV operation this evening after numerous financial problems. The UK wing of the firm is no longer trading or broadcasting.

For more information on this, see our Setanta Help and Advice page

ITV channels may exit Freeview

2009-06-04T07:23:00.001+01:00

Struggling ITV may move ITV2, ITV3 and ITV4 from Freeview to subscription services Sky and Virgin. More

Virgin 1 now 24 hours on Freeview

2009-05-20T14:28:00.001+01:00

Virgin 1 is now broadcasting 24 hours a day on Freeview Channel 20.

The timeshifted service, Virgin 1 +1 is now available on Channel 35 (12 hours day only, from 6pm to 6am).

You may need to perform a channel rescan to get these channels set up on your Freeview receiver.

Quest launch postponed

2009-05-14T13:29:00.006+01:00

Quest TV, the free documentary channel from Discovery, was set to launch on Freeview today, the 14th of May 2009.

A message on the Quest site at 10am on launch day now announces that the launch has had to be postponed due to "commercial factors".

Looks like the channel may not launch until towards the end of the year. More details here

UPDATE: Podcast released 14 May covering this story: Quest TV launch update

Five and Smile channel changes

2009-05-13T07:50:00.000+01:00

A small reshuffle in the 30 channel number range is complete. Here are the new channel numbers:

30 Fiver
31 Five USA
32 Smile TV
33 Smile TV2 (back after a two month absence)

You may need to perform a rescan to pick up the new numbering.

Gems TV leaves, Film4 adds hours

2009-05-08T22:00:00.001+01:00

On the 1st of May 2009, Gems TV left the Freeview lineup. This enables Film 4 to start broadcasting two hours earlier, later this May.

Quest starts on 14th May

2009-05-01T13:00:00.006+01:00

A reminder that we can expect the long-awaited Quest, the documentary channel from Discovery, to appear on Freeview later this month.

Quest takes to the air on 14th May 2009 on Freeview channel 47.

Update 14 May 2009: Launch cancelled! Details: Quest Launch Postponed

Fiver and Five USA on the move

2009-05-01T13:00:00.002+01:00

Fiver and Five USA are also expected to change channel numbers on May 12th 2009.

Fiver moves to channel 30 (from channel 36), and Five USA moves to channel 31 ( from channel 35).

Virgin to go 24 hours and get a +1

2009-04-27T18:20:00.001+01:00

From May the 20th, Virgin 1 on Freeview will switch from 12 hours a day, to 24 hours a day. There will also be a Virgin 1 + 1 (1+1=2?) service added, but this will only be for 12 hours a day.

The change to 24 hours involves Virgin 1 moving to a different multiplex, so users may need to perform a channel re-scan to get the longer hours from 20th May.