Freeview is the UK’s top free-to-air TV service, offering over 100 TV channels and 30+ radio stations to 18 million homes. With just a TV license and a Freeview-compatible device, you can enjoy live TV, radio, and on-demand content via Freeview Play—no monthly fees. This guide provides the most complete Freeview channels list as of January 2026, covering every channel, regional variations, setup tips, and comparisons with other platforms. Whether you’re in England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, or the Channel Islands, Soft4led gives you all the details in one place.
What is Freeview?
Freeview delivers free TV and radio channels through a TV aerial using digital terrestrial television (DTT). Operated by BBC, ITV, Channel 4, Channel 5, and Sky, it’s a budget-friendly alternative to paid services like Sky or Netflix. Freeview Play adds on-demand and catch-up apps like BBC iPlayer and ITVX, accessible on channel 100 or via the Freeview mobile app. You need a Freeview TV, set-top box, or recorder, and a TV license (£159/year).
Complete Freeview Channel List (Updated January 2026)
This list includes every Freeview channel as of January 2026… (after recent WBD changes and hybrid shifts). Retune after updates to see new channels like TLC or fix missing ones.
High Definition (HD) Channels
HD channels require a Freeview HD or Play device with DVB-T2 support, using 1080i resolution and H.264 encoding.
- 101: BBC One HD
- 102: BBC Two HD
- 103: ITV1 HD
- 104: Channel 4 HD
- 105: Channel 5 HD
- 106: BBC Four HD
- 107: BBC Three HD
- 108: BBC Scotland HD
- 109: S4C HD (Wales)
- 203: CBBC HD
- 204: CBeebies HD
- 205: POP (now hybrid streaming-only as of December 10, 2025 update; requires aerial + internet; matches online versions on Pluto TV/Samsung TV Plus. Retune to access.)
- 206: Tiny Pop (COM4/SDN, moved May 2025)
Standard Definition (SD) Channels
SD channels use DVB-T 64-QAM modulation, available on all Freeview devices.
- 1: BBC One
- 2: BBC Two
- 3: ITV1 (STV in Scotland, UTV in Northern Ireland)
- 4: Channel 4 (S4C in Wales)
- 5: Channel 5
- 6: ITV2
- 9: BBC Four
- 10: ITV3
- 11: Sky Mix
- 12: Quest
- 13: E4
- 14: Film4
- 15: Channel 4 +1
- 17: Really
- 18: More4
- 19: U&Dave
- 20: U&Drama
- 21: 5USA
- 23: BBC Three
- 24: U&Dave +1
- 25: U&W
- 26: ITV4
- 27: U&Yesterday
- 28: ITVBe
- 29: ITV2 +1
- 30: E4 +1
- 31: E4 Extra
- 32: 5STAR
- 33: 5Action
- 34: GREAT! movies
- 35: ITV1 +1
- 36: Sky Arts
- 37: Quest Red
- 38: DMAX
- 39: Food Network
- 40: GREAT! romance
- 41: GREAT! movies classic
- 42: GREAT! action
- 43: HGTV (Removed January 2026; property shows moved to sister channel Really or Discovery+ streaming.)
- 44: U&Alibi
- 45: U&Gold
- 47: Challenge
- 48: TLC
- 49: GREAT! tv
- 50: 5Select
- 51: That’s TV
- 54: Sky News
- 55: 5Spike
- 56: Smithsonian Channel
- 57: ITVBe +1
- 58: ITV3 +1
- 59: ITV4 +1
- 60: GREAT! movies +1
- 61: GREAT! romance +1
- 62: PBS America
- 63: GB News
- 64: Blaze
- 65: That’s TV 2
- 67: True Crime
- 68: True Crime Xtra
- 69: LEGEND XTRA (PSB3, DVB-T2 only)
- 70: Horror Xtra
- 71: That’s 90s
- 72: That’s 80s
- 73: That’s 70s
- 74: That’s 60s
- 75: That’s Reality
- 76: That’s Pride (COM5/ArqA, rebranded from That’s Dance, May 2025)
- 77: That’s Memories
- 78: That’s Summer (G_MAN, Manchester only, rebranded from That’s Oldies, May 2025)
- 79: That’s Pride (G_MAN, Manchester only)
- 80: Earthx TV
- 81: Spotlight TV
- 82: Classic Hits
- 83: Trace Vault
- 84: That’s Christmas (seasonal, replaces That’s TV Gold)
- 85: Country Music Entertainment
- 86: It Is Written (Local/Comux, hybrid streaming)
- 87: Merit
- 88: TV Warehouse
- 89: Together TV
- 90: Create & Craft
- 91: That’s TV Gold
- 92: Rewind TV
- 93: ITV3 HD
- 94: ITV4 HD
- 95: High Street TV (Local/Comux, added May 2025)
- 96: ITVBe HD
- 97: QVC
- 98: QVC Beauty
- 99: QVC Style
- 100: Freeview Play (on-demand portal)
- TLC [COM6/ArqB] (relaunched January 2026 as free-to-air, focusing on comedy like The Big Bang Theory, Young Sheldon; available in some areas only—retune required.)
- TLC+1 (timeshift version, added with the launch.)
Local TV Channels
Local channels, broadcast via the Comux/Local multiplex, vary by region on channels 7 or 8.
- 7 or 8: That’s TV (e.g., That’s Oxford, That’s Manchester, Sheffield Live, NVTV)
- 7: Local TV (e.g., Birmingham TV, Bristol TV, Cardiff TV, Leeds TV, Liverpool TV, North Wales TV, Teesside TV, Tyne & Wear TV)
- 7: S4C (Wales, where not on channel 4)
- 7: BBC Alba (Scotland)
- 800+: Saorview overspill (Northern Ireland, west Wales, e.g., RTÉ One, TG4)
Radio Stations
Over 30 radio stations, with logos and some red-button interactivity.
- 701: BBC Radio 1
- 702: BBC Radio 2
- 703: BBC Radio 3
- 704: BBC Radio 4
- 705: BBC Radio 5 Live
- 706: BBC Radio 5 Live Sports Extra
- 707: BBC Radio 6 Music
- 708: BBC Radio 4 Extra
- 709: BBC Asian Network
- 710: Absolute Radio
- 711: Classic FM
- 712: LBC
- 713: talkSPORT
- 714: Capital
- 715: Heart
- 716: Smooth Radio
- 717: Gold
- 718: KISS
- 719: Magic
- 720: Greatest Hits Radio
- 721: Radio X
- 722: Heart 80s
- 723: BBC Radio 1Xtra
- 724: BBC Radio 4 LW
- 725: BBC World Service
- 726: Heart 90s
- 727: Absolute 80s
- 728: Planet Rock
- 729: Smooth Chill
- 730: Heart Dance
- 731: Capital Chill
- 732: Mellow Magic
- 734: Scala Radio
- 735: Jazz FM
- 736: Virgin Radio
- 737: Absolute Classic Rock
- 738: Hits Radio
- 739: Magic Soul
- 740: KISSTORY
- 741: Kerrang! Radio
- 742: Smooth Country
- 743: U105 (Northern Ireland)
- 744: BBC Local Radio (e.g., BBC Radio London, BBC Radio Manchester)
Streamed TV and Text Services
Streamed channels require a Freeview Play device and internet (2Mbps minimum).
- 100: Freeview Play (BBC iPlayer, ITVX, All 4, My5, UKTV Play, PBS America, Watch Free UK)
- 251: Al Jazeera English (COM4/SDN, streaming-only)
- 257: Euronews (COM4/SDN, hybrid streaming)
- 260: ASHARQ NEWS (Local/Comux, hybrid streaming)
- 261: AL ARABIYA (Local/Comux, hybrid streaming)
- 264: Alaraby Network (COM4/SDN, hybrid streaming)
- 269: New Media TV (Local/Comux, streaming)
- 285: Trace UK (Local/Comux, hybrid streaming)
- 300+: BBC streaming channels (e.g., BBC Three HD, BBC News HD on Freeview Play)
Adult Channels
Hidden behind parental controls, typically on higher EPG numbers.
- 670-699: Adult channels (e.g., Adult Channel, Babestation, varies by receiver)
Freeview Play and On-Demand Services
Freeview Play combines live TV with on-demand apps, accessible via channel 100 or the Freeview Play button. Apps include:
- BBC iPlayer
- ITVX
- All 4
- My5
- UKTV Play
- PBS America
- Watch Free UK (Legend, True Crime UK)
Freely (broadband successor to Freeview Play on new TVs) added WBD channels like TLC and CNN Headlines in early 2026, expanding to over 70 live streams.
The Freeview mobile app offers live TV and on-demand content on smartphones or tablets.
Regional Variations
Channel availability varies by region. Check your lineup with the Freeview Channel Checker.
| Region | Key Channels | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| England | That’s TV, Local TV (Channel 7/8) | Varies by city (e.g., Birmingham TV). |
| Scotland | BBC Alba (Channel 7), STV (Channel 3) | Replaces ITV1 in some areas. |
| Wales | S4C (Channel 4 or 7) | Welsh-language programming. |
| Northern Ireland | UTV (Channel 3), Saorview (800+) | Includes overspill from Ireland. |
| Channel Islands | Local variations | Unique lineup, limited local TV. |
How to Set Up Freeview
Setting up Freeview takes about 10 minutes:
- Get Equipment: Buy a Freeview TV, set-top box, or recorder (£30-£200).
- Connect Aerial: Plug in a TV aerial (indoor for strong signals, external for weak signals).
- Retune Device: Go to your TV’s menu, select “retune” or “scan for channels,” and follow prompts.
- Check Signal: Adjust or upgrade your aerial if channels are missing.
Freeview vs. Other TV Platforms
Freeview is cost-effective, requiring only a TV license and one-time equipment purchase. Here’s how it compares:
| Platform | Delivery | Cost | Key Benefit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Freeview | TV aerial | Free (TV license £159/year) | 100+ free channels, Freeview Play |
| Freesat | Satellite dish | Free (TV license) | Better reception in remote areas |
| Sky | Satellite dish | Subscription (£20+/month) | Premium channels, sports, movies |
| Apple TV | Internet streaming | Subscription (£6-£8/month) | Premium shows, movies |
| Samsung TV Plus | Internet streaming | Free (ad-supported) | Free channels via smart TVs |
| Google TV | Internet streaming | Free (ad-supported) | Free channels on Google devices |
| Tubi | Internet streaming | Free (ad-supported) | Ad-supported movies, shows |
For more, see our guides on Apple TV Channels, Samsung TV Plus Channels, Google TV Free Channels, and Tubi TV Channels.
Staying Updated with Freeview Channels
Freeview channels change regularly, with updates in 2025 on January 7, January 22, February 19, March 26, April 23, and May 21. Recent changes include:
- May 2025: POP (205) and Tiny Pop (206) moved to COM4/SDN, High Street TV added on channel 95, That’s Dance rebranded to That’s Pride (76), That’s Oldies to That’s Summer (78, Manchester).
- Retune Tips: Updates occur on the third Wednesday monthly. Retune to restore channels.
Late 2025/Early 2026: TLC launched free-to-air (January 2026, channel 12/99 in some areas), HGTV closed (January 2026), POP switched to hybrid streaming (December 10, 2025). Other tweaks included Blaze moving to channel 41 (December early update) and seasonal Christmas rebrands (e.g., That’s Christmas to That’s Oldies on 75). Retune dates continued monthly (often third Wednesday), with an early December 10 update and non-standard January change for WBD channels. Check Freeview’s updates page for the latest.
Technical Details
Freeview uses seven DTT multiplexes: PSB1, PSB2, PSB3, COM4, COM5, COM6, and Comux/Local. SD channels use DVB-T 64-QAM, HD channels use DVB-T2 256-QAM with H.264 encoding, and local channels use DVB-T QPSK. Audio uses AAC-LC or HE-AAC. For more, see Wikipedia’s DTT guide.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is Freeview Play?
Combines live TV with on-demand apps like BBC iPlayer on channel 100.
How do I get Freeview Play?
Use a Freeview Play device and go to channel 100.
What channels are on Freeview Play?
Includes BBC iPlayer, ITVX, All 4, My5, UKTV Play.
How do I retune my Freeview TV?
Go to the TV menu, select “retune,” and follow prompts.
Why am I missing channels?
Weak signal or outdated list. Retune or adjust the aerial.
Can I watch Freeview on my phone?
Yes, via the Freeview mobile app (2Mbps internet).
How does Freeview compare to Freely?
Freely uses broadband for streaming, replacing Freeview Play on new TVs.
What are Freeview’s costs?
Free with a TV license (£159/year) and equipment cost.
Which channels were removed?
RT (license revoked), BBC News HD (COM7 closure).
Conclusion
Freeview delivers over 100 free TV and radio channels, enhanced by Freeview Play’s on-demand features. This complete January 2026 list covers every channel, regional variations, and setup tips.
