One of the most highly anticipated TV shows of the year (at least for Sci-Fi fans and gamers), Halo, will air its first episode on the free-to-air Channel 5 in the UK, on June 22.
Halo, which premiered in the US in March, is a Paramount+ Original, and therefore normally airs exclusively on the streaming service of the same name.
But with Paramount+ finally launching in the UK – Channel 5, which is also owned by Paramount – is joining the celebrations, giving everyone in the UK a free taste of the first episode of Halo.
The first episode will thus air on Channel 5 on Wednesday, June 22, at 10:00 pm, as a “Paramount+ Presents” preview showing.
Channel 5 is available on all the free TV platforms – Freeview, YouView and Freesat, as well as on the pay-TV platforms, such as Sky and Virgin Media.
The channel’s catch-up/streaming service, My5, is available on most of the major streaming devices and Freeview Play boxes.
But following the ‘live’ linear airing, Halo’s Episode 1 will NOT be available on catch-up via My5, and will only be available to stream on Paramount+.
If you then want to watch the next episodes of Halo, you will also need a Paramount+ subscription (see below on how to get one), where the first three episodes will drop on June 22, with new weekly episodes then airing every Wednesday.
- Sign Up to Paramount+ Directly (With Free Trial)
- Sign Up To Paramount+ Via Amazon’s Prime Video Channels (With Free Trial)
Halo TV Series: What’s It About?
Halo: The Series is an action sci-fi show based on the popular XBOX video game franchise.
Dramatizing an epic 26th-century conflict between humanity and an alien threat known as the Covenant, Halo weaves deeply drawn personal stories with action, adventure and a richly imagined vision of the future.
The series stars Pablo Schreiber (American Gods) as the Master Chief, Spartan-117; Natascha McElhone (Californication) as Dr. Halsey, the brilliant, conflicted and inscrutable creator of the Spartan super-soldiers; and Jen Taylor (Halo game series) as Cortana, the most advanced AI in human history, and potentially the key to the survival of the human race.
The synopsis for Episode 1, “Contact”, which is the one that will air on Channel 5, is as follows:
In the year 2552, humans on the planet Madrigal have been fighting for independence from Earth, but a fatal encounter with the Alien Covenant complicates things.
Master Chief John 117 and his super-soldier “Spartans” join the fight. After the battle, Master Chief heads to his home planet of Reach with a Madrigal survivor and a mysterious object he discovered on the planet.
But a controversial order has John questioning his mission, and himself.
In the US, the show launched on March 24, 2022, and has already finished airing its nine episodes of Season 1.
The reviews have been mixed – but generally positive – with a 71% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, as of this writing.
Halo: The Series has already been renewed for a second season.
What Is Paramount Plus?
Paramount+ is an American streaming service (previously known as CBS All Access) which has been going global this year. It is owned by Paramount Global (previously ViacomCBS), which also owns Channel 5 in the UK.
In the UK, Paramount+ will be available as a stand-alone streaming app/service, from June 22.
The app will be available on all the major streaming devices – Amazon Fire TV, Roku and others, and will also be available as an Amazon Prime Video Channel.
Paramount+ will cost £6.99/month or £69.90/year, and will also offer a free 7-days trial (See more details about Paramount+ UK here).
Sky Cinema subscribers will get it for free, as a “bonus” – though it seems the deal will only be offered to Sky Q and Sky Glass customers. NOW subscribers (Sky’s streaming service) will not be getting it for free.
At launch, Paramount+ will offer more than 8,000 hours of content – from original, exclusive TV shows to popular US shows and blockbusters films. Later on, it will also feature original UK programmes.
Halo is one of Paramount Plus’ Originals. Others that you can watch on the service include Star Trek: Strange New Worlds, The Man Who Fell To Earth, The First Lady and more.
For more, see our list of hit shows that are coming to Paramount+ on launch day.
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Thank god i missed the first episode.
It’s been well publicised that only the first episode will air on Channel 5 so hardly click bait, pretty smart way of encouraging folk to subscribe to Paramount+ if you ask me.
I think what has been done with Halo on channel 5 is appalling and underhanded , we cant all afford these subscriptions and far better had we not enjoyed the 1st episode, i for one had no idea this was going to happen untill the end of this 1st episode . i am totally disgusted me watching channel 5 and its other related channels is not so likely to happen now, are plenty other freeview channels and never is time to watch all these programs anyway so goodbye channel 5 im deleting you from my channel list
Because your post has distressed me so much that it’s actually brought me to tears, would you mind explaining how one is able to delete channels from his EPG/channel list?
It’s heartbreaking to read how you’ve found this manoeuvre by Channel 5 to be so “appalling and underhanded” that you feel there is no option but to say “goodbye” so I’m now also wanting to do the same and remove them from my EPG in solidarity with you Mr D. Rheman–Johnson!
I am quite sure you are well aware of how to set up your receiver or set top box ectr channel list.
Ah Mr D. Rheman–Johnson, thank you for your prompt response.
I know how to record, set reminders and what have you on our Sky Q box. I’d also like to think I’m rather familiar with our LG OLED C9+CX televisions’ menus and EPG’s when watching terrestrial seeing we’ve got three of them but to be honest with you I have no idea how to just completely remove a channel from either the Sky Q box or the tellies
I can see from your previous post that you are a man of honour, an oracle of technological know-how and a true scribe of English Literature which is precisely why I’m asking your advice.
Together we will make a stand against the forces of darkness at Channel 5 and show them who’s boss right? (Just don’t let on that we’re fully aware everyone will get a free month of Paramount+ through Xbox Game Pass Ultimate on Tuesday though)
Obviously you cannot completely remove a channel but you can remove it from your viewing list, why would you think i know how to completely remove it? We all choose which channels to keep on our list for the viewing guide and i am free view at this time. And am certainly no technical genius at all on such things ,no more than anyone else. I removed from my veiwer list not the box! That goes without saying .
So NOT coming to Channel 5, as the headline suggests; just the first episode. I hate click bait