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.
I don’t understand why BBC 3 didn’t go back to Freeview 7, as it has never been used since they ceased transmission – at least in my area.
I wish they’d leave all the channels where they are. If a new channel comes along it gets an unused number.
Fully agree, lest responsible than the Government and that’s saying something
In my area we do not receive 11 channels which are supposedly available on Freeview and should come from the transmitter I receive signal from. Poor service.
With 4K the supposed next generation of broadcasts and most new TVs 4K ready, why is HD not the ‘standard’ Freeview transmission with all channels?
OK, not everybody has mega large TVs, but SD broadcasts on even an average 40″ screen is so 1990’s.😏
It’s about time subtitles were included in all programs.
Currently if you have a hearing problem you have about 25 stations that have subtitles.
The tv license is still the same price for people with hearing problems, even though you can only enjoy a quarter of the channels
Why all the teleshopping channels. Cant we have itv 4+1 talk sport 2 and tcm
It’s about time the tv Broadcasters like the BBC ITV CH4 CH5 and Sky sort out their HD Channels on freeview and move them into the SD numbering slots like 1 2 3 4 5 for example and give itv 4+1 some broadcasting hours, what the point of this channel when it does not even broadcast, waste of space to be honest.
Can’t be done yet as there are still many older receivers out there that cannot receive HD, moving the HD channels to 1, 2, 3, 4 etc. would cause issues for those who still have non-HD receivers – give it a couple of years and these receivers will probably be gone and the numbers can be changed.
yes I agree . It was the massive HD ready con that caused this. trying to get a smaller TV with full HD is just about impossible now. I have mine in a small room and cannot have a massive 40″ or 50″ Tv in it.
Problem with hd channels is regional programmes. For instance local news and regional interest shows. If you’re on hd Bbc1 for example there is just a red screen with with some muffled tweeting or shuffling about sounds ect. That happens as most local BBC transmitters are not uo to HD broadcast.
Supposedly the BBC are in the process of turning all local channels into HD.
This article came out last October
https://www.bbc.co.uk/mediacentre/articles/2021/bbc-one-hd-rollout-england
can’t agree with that really. A lot of people cannot even receive the HD channels. The massive con trick of HD ready TVs saw to that. Amazingly they still sell a lot of them and stilly trying to con people into thinking they are full HD.
Too many shopping channels. ITV4, a complete waste of time. 2 hours a day, and then only teleshopping
That should read ITV4+1
why have plus one channels if nobody can watch them
To give them more advertising space!!!
How does it give them more advertising space when they showing nothing?
why no Capitol Cold radio on Freeveiw.?
Capital Cold?? Don’t you mean Capital Gold lol