FREEVIEW bosses have announced plans to reshuffle channels amid a boom in streamed services on TV.
Viewers will soon be asked to retune their boxes as some channel numbers will change as part of the move.
A growing number of channels on Freeview are delivered via an internet connection on digital terrestrial television (DTT) as it’s cheaper for broadcasters to operate.
This includes channels such as Channelbox, Filmstream and most recently the Extreme Channel.
These are known as hybrid streaming channels and are located from number 263 at the moment on Freeview.
But following a recent consultation it’s set to be overhauled.
The current setup is running out of slots for hybrid streaming channels, so Everyone TV – the company that runs Freeview – is planning to shuffle services down.
This means hybrid streaming channels will start from number 250 instead.
250 to 259 were originally designated for text-based services but these are basically over now.
The last of the text kind still running is BBC Red Button.
So, at some point in the near future, numbers 250 to 299 will become the section for the Hybrid Streamed and Text category.
And ultimately it paves the way for more free telly.
“We will implement our proposals in full,” Everyone TV said in its consultation statement.
But it’s not been revealed exactly when the changes will happen.
According to Freeview, there are multiple reasons why channels are shuffled.
“Sometimes channel names or numbers can change,” the broadcaster explains in a help page.
“This could be for a variety of reasons, including adjustments to airwaves or because the channels have requested these changes themselves.”
Most people will get an on-screen alert warning of upcoming changes.
“Usually, you’ll get an on-screen message when changes are taking place,” Freeview notes.
“But you can also enter your postcode into our updates and alerts page to see if any changes have been made and which channels are affected.”
To access Freeview’s updates page, click here.
