History of Freeview UK
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2002
Following the collapse of ITV Digital, the Independent Television Commission re-advertised the licenses for the three multiplexes (MUX B, C and D) that had been used by ITV Digital. On 16 August 2002 the licenses were granted to members of the Freeview consortium, with BBC getting multiplex B and Crown Castle getting multiplexes C and D.[1]
Although all pay channels had been closed down on ITV Digital, many free-to-air channels continued broadcasting, including the five analogue channels, the digital BBC channels,
Freeview launched on 30 October 2002 at 5 am.
2003
In February 2003 BBC Three replaced BBC Choice, which since February the previous year had no longer contained children's programming, as the job was fulfilled by the
The seventh stream became shared by
2004
Pay television returned to the terrestrial platform in March 2004 when
on platforms other than Freeview.2005
In early 2005, two new channel streams became available on the two Crown Castle multiplexes.
In the autumn of 2005 Channel 4 and ITV joined the Freeview consortium. They also launched two new channels,
Another stream became available on the Crown Castle multiplexes. Channel 4 won the bidding for this stream, which reportedly reached £12 million per year.[5] The space was initially used to broadcast More4 +1.
The
Toonami was launched on Freeview on December 7, 2005.
2006
Five had bought a stake in the company behind the Top Up TV service, and in the autumn of 2006 it was restructured into a
Quiz Call was sold in November 2006, however because the deal did not include the Freeview slot it meant it had to close down. The space was then used by Film4 +1.[citation needed]
2007
ITV Play stopped programs in the early hours of 6 March 2007. Originally, it was to return later in March, but it was decided it would close down for good, with it being removed from the EPG on 16 March 2007. The slot got reused for a one-hour timeshift of ITV2, ITV2 +1, shortly afterwards.[8]
Toonami was renamed Cartoon Network Too in June 2007.
Channel 4 replaced Film4 +1 with Channel 4 +1 in August 2007.[9] Disney decided to leave Freeview and unexpectedly closed down ABC1 shortly after midday on 26 September 2007, days before it was supposed to close down on 1 October 2007.[10]
Ftn was replaced by
Additionally, in December 2007,
2008
CITV eventually moved into ABC1's old space, allowing ITV4 to broadcast 24/7. Because the slot that CITV moved into would interfere with S4C if available in Wales, it means that CITV can now only be received using Freeview in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland. CITV continues to be available in Wales on all other platforms.[12]
The Jewellery Channel was removed in May 2008 because the broadcast license was not renewed, and was replaced by a second stream of Gems TV, which was referred to inside the EPG as "GEMSTV1".
The Hits was renamed 4Music in August 2008.[13]
2009
In January 2009,
After Quest was launched, Film4 broadcast hours were extended to 9:45 am to 8:45 am (although films were only broadcast between 11 am and around 4 am), as Gems TV changed its schedule to broadcast during Quest's downtime (between 1 am and 11 am). Film4 now, instead of closing down in downtime hours, instead broadcasts teleshopping or an animated caption stating it will return at 11 am. Around the same time, Gems TV ceased its second stream and was replaced by extended coverage of CNN.
On 20 May
On 15 July 2009, quiz channel Big Deal launched on channel 37 between 10 pm and 5 am, timesharing with Create and Craft and Russia Today.[citation needed]
Freeview underwent a major multiplex re-configuration on 30 September 2009, which required all Freeview users to retune.[15] This cleared multiplex B (aka PSB3 aka BBCB) to run in DVB-T2 mode, and moved all BBC television and radio services to multiplex PSB1 (BBCA) in post-DSO areas. Five moved to multiplex 2/PSB2/D3+4, swapping with ITV3 which ended up on multiplex A/COM4/SDN. ITV4 moved to Multiplex D/COM6 swapping with ITV2 +1, which ended up on Multiplex 2/PSB2 (in ITV plc areas ITV2 +1 moved to LCN 33 in anticipation that it would become ITV1 +1).[16] 18 million households were required to retune their television sets on or after midday on 30 September.[15] The changes lead to several hundred complaints from people who had lost channels as a result of retuning their equipment.[17]
To make room for the HD channels, the number of interactive BBC streams was reduced from 4 to 2 in pre-DSO areas and 1 in post-DSO areas, and the
2010
In February 2010 National Lottery Extra ceased to exist. The channel was replaced by extended coverage of Film4, which became 24/7 once the channel stopped, but continued to show just teleshopping and animated captions between around 4 am and 11 am.
The fourth HD channel slot was automatically given to the BBC, who, on 28 May, announced that they intended to use the space to launch a high-definition simulcast of BBC One in the autumn.[21]
During June 2010, 4TVInteractive ceased broadcasting on the platform on channel 300. It was used to provide up to 14 days worth of EPG data to compatible receivers between 3 am and 4 am. Receivers which relied solely on this data and are not compatible with the standard 8-day EPG requirement for products with digital tick are no longer able to provide advance EPG data.
On 1 July 2010,
During August 2010, Sky Sports 1 and 2 were made available on digital terrestrial television via BT Vision and Top Up TV.
On 23 August 2010, Sky Sports News was removed from the platform due to it becoming a pay TV channel. The slot was then reused for a 1-hour timeshift of Sky3, called Sky3 +1.
On Friday 3 September 2010,
On the midnight after 13 November 2010, CNN International was removed from Freeview.
On 30 November 2010, S4C2 was removed from Freeview, for this being because its live coverage from the National Eisteddfod and Royal Welsh show would be more heavily featured on the main S4C channel. It ceased broadcasting on all remaining platforms on 6 December 2010.
2011
ITV launched their timeshift channel for ITV1 which is called ITV1 +1 on 11 January 2011. To make way for the timeshift, ITV2 +1 no longer broadcast for 24 hours a day and changed its hours to 7 pm to 6 am. However, ITV2 +1 restored its 24/7 status on 2 August 2011 as a new eleventh stream became available on the multiplex.
Channel One began to leave Freeview across the country, starting with Wales on 31 January 2011 at 7 pm and finishing with the rest of the country on 1 February 2011 at 3 am. On the other platforms, Channel One continued until 1 February 2011 at 6 am with its one-hour timeshift, Channel One +1, ceasing broadcasts at 7 am the same day. On Freeview, the slot was used to launch Challenge. Challenge launched at 9 am the day Channel One stopped broadcasting.
Sky3 & Sky3 +1 became
The Scottish Gaelic channel
Gems TV stopped timesharing with Quest on 30 June 2011, as a new stream became available on the multiplex.
Food Network launched on channel 49 on 7 July 2011, broadcasting between 6 pm and 10 pm.[23]
Really launched on channel 20 on 2 August at 10 am, reducing Dave ja vu to a two-hour service between 2 am and 4 am.[24]
Pick TV +1 closed on channel 44 on 20 September 2011 at 2 pm. This allowed all channels owned by Sky to be on multiplex C as well as Challenge to go 24 hours in Wales.
On 21 September 2011, the Jewellery Channel was restored to Freeview, this time being on channel 60. The channel replaced Challenge's old slot on multiplex A.
In October 2011, Daystar silently closed on channel 47. The channel however continues to broadcast on other platforms.
2012
Movies4Men, Movies4Men +1, Movies4Men2 and Movies4Men 2 +1 all closed in January 2012 on the local multiplex that broadcasts in Manchester. Movies4Men 2 and Movies4Men 2 +1 closed themselves in May of that year. Movies4Men and Movies4Men +1 returned in 2014.
4seven launched on channel 47 with a placeholder channel on 2 April 2012 in post-switchover areas, and officially launched on 4 July 2012.
2013
ITV1 was renamed ITV in January 2013.
BBC Two HD launched on 26 February on channel 102 replacing BBC HD
Film4 moved to multiplex 2, making the channel more widely available in the UK
True Entertainment launched on channel 61, making it the first CSC Media Group channel to launch on the platform
Pay TV provider Top Up TV closed on 31 October after nine years of providing extra pay TV content. Most Top Up TV set top boxes will still be able to receive Freeview channels
In July 2013 Ofcom announced that they would make some of the spectrum freed up from the analogue switchover to launch two additional terrestrial multiplexes that could carry ten high-definition channels. The BBC subsequently announced that it would launch high-definition versions of BBC Three, BBC Four, BBC News, CBBC and CBeebies.[25] All these channels launched on 10 December 2013, with BBC Three and CBBC using vacant capacity on BBC's existing multiplex, while the others used the new capacity.
One other HD channel, Al Jazeera English, had launched in November, also using the new multiplexes.
2014
Movies4Men returned to Freeview nationwide. It had previously been Manchester only.
Shop at Bid and Price Drop closed on 17 April 2014, with the channels being removed from the EPG on 25 April 2014.
On 8 May 2014, Chart Show TV launched, but timeshares with Pop meaning it is night-time only. This arrangement was short-lived as Chart Show TV is now only available on the Manchester Stream. Pop became a 24/7 channel in the process.
Tiny Pop launched in 20 October 2014, making it the 9th children's channel (other than HD channels) are launched on Freeview.
2015
On 12 February 2015, Freeview changes its logo.[citation needed]
2016
2017
On 15 March 2017, Tiny Pop moved to the local TV multiplex meaning that cities with no local TV channel on either channels 7 or 8 no longer could access the channel.
CBS Action gained a timeshift channel on channel 90 which meant that CBS Drama had to move multiplexes so that the timeshift channel could broadcast. It moved from the COM7 multiplex to the COM6 one.
Quest Red launched on Freeview channel 38. Quest+1 moved to 92 only being 3 hours a day (5 am – 8 am).
Colors HD launched on COM8. TJC Choice launched on channel 93 on 22 March.
BT Showcase went defunct on 9 May, being replaced by BT Showcase HD at COM8.
On 30 August 2017, Kix was renamed Pop Max, with signs of change for programmes.
2018
On 3rd January, True Christmas reverted to True Movies. Eight days later,
2019
The GREAT! channels were launched and went onto Freeview.
2020
On 15th April,
2021
On 1 February, CCXTV closes and its Freeview slot is allocated to Drama +1.[29]
2022
On 3rd March,
In March, W becomes a free-to-air channel and launches on Freesat prior to its launch on Freeview on 28 March.[32]On 29 and 30 June, numerous changes are made, some relating to the withdrawal of the COM7 broadcast multiplex, which led to services including
Additionally, the 4Music channel as broadcast on Freeview and elsewhere was replaced by
In November, ITV's name was changed back to ITV1
2023
Smithsonian Channel closes on 6 January.
On the 22 March, local news became available on
On 21 June 2023, Great! TV became available nationwide on Freeview
On 19 July 2023, POP began being available only in local areas, along with the return of Pop Max on Freeview in local areas, and Great! Romance went nationwide on Freeview
On 1 September, ITV closed it's children's channel CITV after 17 years (and 40 years as a strand on ITV1/STV) later in the year to move children's content to ITVX. In addition to this, it was also announced that children's programmes would be broadcast in a morning slot on ITV2.[36][37] This began on 2 September 2023 at 5am, the night after the closure of the CITV channel.
After the closure of the CITV channel, ITVBe+1 began broadcasting from 5am to 9pm, and ITV3 +1 began broadcasting 24 hours a day
- ISBN 978-1-84150-321-9.
- ^ "UK DTT Channel List (free-to-view including yr2002 dtt trials)". Unsatisfactorysoftware.co.uk. Retrieved 25 February 2009.
- ^ "UK DTT Channel List (Freeview)". Unsatisfactorysoftware.co.uk. Retrieved 25 February 2009.
- ^ "UK DTT Channel List (Freeview/Top Up TV)". Unsatisfactorysoftware.co.uk. Retrieved 25 February 2009.
- ^ "Confirmed: Channel 4 wins new Freeview slot". digital Spy. 28 November 2005.
- ^ Lovelace Consulting (21 November 2005). "Five buys stake in Top Up TV – DTG News". Dtg.org.uk. Retrieved 27 January 2011.
- ^ "Five launches Two New Channels". Broadcast Now. 5 June 2006. Retrieved 27 January 2011.
- ^ Lovelace Consulting (14 March 2007). "ITV Play closes down, replaced by ITV2+1 – DTG News". Dtg.org.uk. Retrieved 27 January 2011.
- ^ "Freeview Press Release on the launch of Channel4+1". Freeview.co.uk. 20 August 2007. Archived from the original on 17 July 2011. Retrieved 27 January 2011.
- ^ Lovelace Consulting. "DTG News Item – Disney to axe ABC1". Dtg.org.uk. Retrieved 27 January 2011.
- ^ Joanne Oatts (20 September 2007). "UKTV G2 becomes Dave, Joins Freeview". Digital Spy. Retrieved 27 January 2011.
- ^ "Round the clock broadcasts for ITV4". Digital Spy. 7 February 2008.
- ^ "The Hits becomes 4Music – Digital Spy News". Digitalspy.co.uk. 18 July 2008. Retrieved 27 January 2011.
- ^ "Digital TV – News – Virgin1 to go 24 hours on Freeview – Digital Spy". Retrieved 1 August 2009.
- ^ a b "18m Freeview homes in TV retune". BBC News. 30 September 2009. Retrieved 30 September 2009.
- ^ [Freeview – Remember to Retune http://www.freeview.co.uk/freeview/Press/Freeview-launches-Remember-to-Retune-campaign Archived 1 August 2009 at the Wayback Machine]
- ^ "Complaints over Freeview retune". BBC News. 30 September 2009. Retrieved 30 September 2009.
- ^ "Freeview HD begins UK transmissions". Digital Spy. 2 December 2009.
- ^ "Channel 4 HD launches on Freeview HD". Digital Spy. 30 March 2010.
- ^ "Digital TV – News – No Five HD on Freeview before 2012". Digital Spy. 15 March 2010. Retrieved 27 January 2011.
- ^ "BBC One HD to launch in autumn". Digital Spy. 28 May 2010.
- ^ Sweney, Mark (30 June 2010). "Al-Jazeera English to launch on Freeview". London: mediaguardian.co.uk.
- ^ "Food Network UK launches on Freeview channel 49 on 7 July 2011 – Freeview.co.uk". Archived from the original on 9 July 2011. Retrieved 6 August 2011.
- ^ "Really launches on Freeview channel 20 and replaces Dave Ja Vu on 2 August 2011 – Freeview.co.uk". Archived from the original on 20 July 2011. Retrieved 6 August 2011.
- ^ "BBC to launch five new HD channels". BBC News. 16 July 2013. Retrieved 16 July 2013.
- ^ "CCXTV". media.info. Retrieved 27 January 2021.
- ^ Patterson, Stephen (17 April 2020). "US soap The Bold and The Beautiful returns to UK screens amid lockdown". Metro. Retrieved 27 January 2021.
- ^ "Press Pack: Sky Arts Available to Everyone from 17 September". www.skygroup.sky. Sky Group Newsroom. 24 August 2020. Archived from the original on 25 August 2020. Retrieved 24 August 2020.
- ^ "Plug pulled on CCXTV Freeview channel". 25 January 2021.
- ^ "RT becomes "unavailable" on Freeview". RX:TV. 2 March 2022. Retrieved 2 March 2022.
- ^ "RT: Russian-backed TV news channel disappears from UK screens". 3 March 2022. Retrieved 3 March 2022 – via www.bbc.co.uk.
- ^ "UKTV take W free-to-air with channel rebrand". TVZoneUK. 21 March 2022. Retrieved 23 March 2022.
- ^ "BBC Freeview changes: BBC Four HD reprieved for now; gets wider coverage". RXTV info. 2 June 2022. Retrieved 4 March 2024.
- ^ Newsdesk1, RXTV (23 June 2022). "Two days of Freeview retuning: your guide to all the changes". RXTV info. Retrieved 4 March 2024.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ "Update on changes to BBC One HD on Freeview/Youview in England". www.bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 22 March 2023.
- ^ "ITV announces closure of CITV in favour of streaming-only children's content". ITV News. 10 March 2023.
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