Yes, it’s that time of the month again – Freeview update time – and this month, we’re getting one new channel dedicated to mystery shows and films, along with several channel changes.
November’s changes have already started to roll out, but as always, most viewers will need to retune their Freeview devices for the correct new numbers and channels to fall into place (some devices do this retune automatically – see our recommended Freeview recorders here).
Freeview, which started its life back in 2002, is the United Kingdom’s terrestrial television platform. It provides free-to-air TV channels and radio stations (via a Freeview aerial – see the ones we recommend), including more than 80 standard and HD channels. You can watch it on any supported TV, or by using a set-top Freeview box.
To watch Freeview via broadband, you’ll need one of the subscription-based devices like Sky Stream or Virgin Media Stream (though not all Freeview channels are available on these devices).
See our full Freeview guide here.
New Freeview Channel
November brings with it one new Freeview channel:
Great! Mystery
From the company that brought us Great! TV, Great! Movies, Great! Action and Great! Romance (and Great! Real, which was abruptly removed from Freeview and Sky earlier this year, and eventually became a streaming-only channel), comes a new channel dedicated to mystery shows and films.
Described as a channel with “binge-worthy mystery shows and monthly premieres of high-stakes crime movies”, Great! Mystery will include films such as Drive (with Ryan Gosling), Dick Van Dyke’s made-for-television mystery films Murder 101, and more.
The channel was already available on some streaming-only platforms, such as Samsung TV Plus, Netgem and others – but will now be more widely available.
- Great! Mystery is now available on Freeview Channel 61.
Meanwhile, Great! Mystery is also now available on Freely, the broadband-based heir to Freeview – but only if you connect an aerial. On Freely, Great! Mystery is available on Channel 57.
Freeview Channel Changes
As part of this month’s changes Great! TV+1, the +1 version of Great! TV currently on Channel 62 – is becoming the home of Great! Player – the network’s on-demand streaming platform – AND, it’s moving to Channel 63.
Several other channels are changing places as well (some are only available in Manchester) –
- GREAT! Romance Mix is moving from 63 to Freeview Channel 62
- That’s Dance MCR is moving from 80 to Freeview Channel 79
- That’s TV (UK) MCR is moving from 86 to Freeview Channel 80
- That’s TV 2 MCR is moving from 87 to Freeview Channel 86
- That’s Christmas MCR is moving from 88 to Freeview Channel 87
- TV Warehouse is moving from 92 to Freeview Channel 88
- TV Warehouse+1 is moving from 94 to Freeview Channel 92
If you missed October’s list of Freeview changes (when 5 new channels launched) – you can find it here.
Retune Your Freeview Device
Whenever Freeview changes take place, some people need to retune their Freeview devices – otherwise, channel numbers and names won’t be correct, and new channels won’t show up.
Some devices do a retune automatically, but others might require a manual retune for this week’s changes to update correctly.
You can find more information on how to retune your device, on Freeview’s retuning help section.
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