Channel boost for local TV across UK
March 3, 2016
Local TV channels across the UK are set for a boost with the offer of a more prominent position in the Freeview TV guide, Digital UK has announced.
Currently listed at channel 23, local services in Scotland and Wales will be eligible to move to channel 8 following the transition of BBC Three to a fully online service1. Local services in England and Northern Ireland, currently on 8, will be offered the chance to move to channel 7.
The changes follow an industry wide consultation by Digital UK, which manages the allocation of channel numbers on the platform, and will increase the visibility of local services. Freeview is the most widely used TV service in the UK.
Jonathan Thompson, Chief Executive of Digital UK, said: ‘The decision to move BBC Three online has opened up the opportunity to improve the prominence of local TV on Freeview across the UK. We will now work with the BBC, STV and local channel providers to make these changes as smoothly as possible.’
Changes to the TV guide are expected to take place in April. Some viewers may need to retune their TV or box to receive the latest channel-line up where changes are not picked up automatically.