Freesat is getting a new channel this week – 4Music; The music and entertainment channel is coming back to the free-to-air satellite service, having been removed from it several years ago.
4Music, which is owned by Channel 4, features music videos as well as general entertainment TV programmes, such as The Goldbergs, Buffy The Vampire Slayer, Couples Come Dine With Me and more (see further details below).
On Freesat, 4Music is now available on Channel 181.
The channel is also available on Freeview (Channel 31) and the pay-TV platforms (139 on Sky and 336 on Virgin Media).
On the same day, Freesat is also seeing the relaunch of BBC Three’s linear channel – with several channels changing places on the service.
Freesat was established in 2007 by the BBC and ITV. It offers more than 200 free-to-air TV channels and radio stations, all transmitted via digital satellite.
To watch Freesat, you need a dish outside your house and a Freesat receiver (see our recommended Freesat boxes here).
Freesat is particularly useful in areas where Freeview reception is bad, as its satellite coverage can often perform better.
Earlier this year, a big shakeup was announced, when Freesat and Freeview came under the roof of a single company, Digital UK, which is owned jointly by the BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5.
4Music’s Freesat relaunch follows the recent return of six other Channel 4 owned channels, including Channel 4 HD and five other music channels from The Box Plus Network.
At the time, 4Music was still missing due to copyright issues – until now.
One major part of Channel 4 still missing from Freesat is its streaming app, All4, which is unfortunately not coming back to the Freesat boxes yet.
So far, Freesat could only tell us they’re “working with our partners to launch more services on our platform, where possible”.
4Music Channel on Freesat
The free-to-air channel first launched in 2008, focusing on music and entertainment. It joined Freesat in 2017, but was removed from it in December 2018. Then, it returned on February 1, 2022, to Freesat Channel 181.
Emily Doyle, Content Partnership Manager at Freesat, said:
“Freesat thrives on bringing our viewers the very best free-to-view entertainment – and 4Music is bursting with brilliant content.
“Recognising feedback from our customers about wanting to see more music and entertainment channels, this is another example of us working on partnerships which will actively help answer that call.”
As is common these days, 4Music offers more than music videos, and features TV programmes, mostly from Channel 4’s library of original and bought shows, including several classic American franchises.
Some of the programmes you can find on 4Music are:
- 8 out of 10 Cats Does Countdown
- Wipeout USA
- Sabrina The Teenage Witch
- Charmed
- How I Met Your Mother
Karla Berry, Distribution and Platform Partnerships Leader, Channel 4 said:
“4Music is a valuable asset in our brand portfolio and a key driver in helping us reach young audiences.
They love its mix of the best comedy and entertainment, along with the hottest new music videos and biggest chart hits.”
I would like to see more sports and more film channels on Freesat