60 Freeview channels are about to change their numbers, in one of the most extensive reshuffles Freeview has ever seen (see the complete list of changes below).
The numbering changes will take place on January 26, 2022.
This is due to the return of the linear version of BBC Three on February 1, 2022, which will air on Freeview Channel 23 in SD, and Freeview Channel 109 in HD.
The list of affected channels includes ITV4, 5Star, HGTV, Freesports, CBS Reality, NOW 80s and many others.
As always, this change means many viewers will need to retune their Freeview devices, to keep the Electronic Programmes Guide up to date (some devices do this retune automatically – see our recommended Freeview recorders here).
While many of these channel changes will also take place on other platforms – such as Freesat, Sky and Virgin Media – those devices can make channel changes automatically.
However, it does mean that some of the channels you know will move on these other TV platforms as well, and not just on Freeview.
Freeview, established 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 (See our full Freeview guide here).
We often see minor Freeview channel changes throughout the year, but the last major one was in November 2020, when more than 30 channels had to move in order to give BBC Four a more prominent place on the channels list.
This time, the big shakeup is happening due to BBC Three, which is returning to linear TV for the first time since its closure in 2016 (when it changed to a streaming-only channel, via BBC iPlayer).
The youth-oriented channel will broadcast daily from 7 pm and be available on Freeview (and YouView), Freesat, Sky and Virgin Media.
Some of the new content coming to BBC Three includes RuPaul’s Drag Race: UK Versus The World, Series 2 of the critically-acclaimed international hit romcom Starstruck as well as live football.
When Ofcom approved the return of BBC Three, it also agreed to change the prominence rules, assuring the new channel gets a place among the first 24 EPG channel numbers.
Therefore, to make room for BBC Three on Freeview, 60 other channels are changing places.
Freeview Channel Changes – The Full List
As mentioned, BBC Three will air on Channel 23 (in place of Dave Ja vu channel).
Here’s the official list of changes:
| Current No. | New No. | Channel name |
| 23 | 25 | Dave Ja vu |
| 24 | No change | BBC FOUR |
| 25 | 26 | ITV4 |
| 26 | 27 | Yesterday |
| 27 | 28 | ITVBe |
| 28 | 29 | ITV2 +1 |
| 29 | 30 | E4+1 |
| 30 | 31 | 4Music |
| 31 | 32 | 5STAR |
| 32 | 33 | Paramount Network (5Action) |
| 33 | 34 | GREAT! movies |
| 34 | 35 | ITV +1 |
| 35 | 36 | Pick |
| 36 | 37 | QVC Beauty |
| 37 | 38 | QVC Style |
| 38 | 39 | DMAX |
| 39 | 40 | Quest Red |
| 40 | 41 | CBS Justice |
| 41 | 42 | GREAT! movies action |
| 42 | 43 | Food Network |
| 43 | 44 | HGTV |
| 44 | 45 | Gems TV |
| 45 | 46 | Channel 5+1 |
| 46 | 47 | Film4+1 |
| 47 | 48 | Challenge |
| 48 | 49 | 4seven |
| 49 | 50 | GREAT! tv |
| 50 | 51 | Ideal World (TJC now on 22) |
| 51 | 52 | GREAT! movies classic |
| 52 | 53 | TG4 |
| 53 | 54 | RTÉ One |
| 54 | 55 | RTÉ Two |
| 55 | 56 | 5SELECT |
| 56 | 57 | Smithsonian Channel |
| 57 | 58 | ITVBe+1 |
| 58 | 59 | ITV3+1 |
| 59 | 60 | ITV4+1 |
| 60 | 61 | GREAT! movies +1 |
| 61 | 62 | GREAT! tv +1 |
| 62 | 63 | GREAT! movies classic +1 |
| 63 | 64 | Blaze |
| 64 | 65 | FreeSports |
| 65 | 66 | TBN UK |
| 66 | 67 | CBS Reality |
| 67 | 68 | CBS Drama |
| 68 | 69 | Horror Channel |
| 69 | 70 | QUEST+1 |
| 70 | 71 | Quest Red+1 |
| 71 | 72 | Jewellery Maker |
| 72 | 73 | Shopping Quarter |
| 73 | 74 | Drama +1 |
| 74 | 75 | Yesterday+1 |
| 75 | 76 | NOW 70s |
| 76 | 77 | NOW 80s |
| 77 | 78 | TCC |
| 78 | 79 | NOW 90s |
| 79 | 80 | Clubland TV |
| 80 | 81 | Blaze+1 |
| 81 | 82 | TalkingPictures TV |
| 82 | 83 | Together TV |
More Freeview Changes
As of January 19, the Paramount Network channel is changing its name to 5Action (without any changes to its content or air times).
And as detailed above, On January 26, the newly named 5Action will move from its current Channel 32 to Channel 33.
Furthermore, Ideal World Channel is trading places with the Tjc shopping channel.
Therefore, on January 19, Ideal World will move from Channel 22 to Channel 50. Then, on January 26, it will move to Channel 51 as part of the big reshuffle.
Tjc is moving to Channel 22 on January 19 (and will remain there even after January 26).
Retune Your Freeview Device
Once these changes take place (usually at mid-day, on January 26), you will need to retune your Freeview device, or else the channel numbers and names won’t be correct.
Some devices automatically retune, but others may require a manual retune.
You can find more information on how to retune your device on Freeview’s retuning help section.
