New freeview epg line up
Getting to know a whole new EPG is always a fun way to waste a weekend (although I can’t remember the old Sky EPG and that change was only a few weeks ago). So we can’t wait to have a look at the new EPG for Freeview.
The Digital Terrestrial TV Multiplex Operators Limited (wow, or DMOL for short) has made an announcement recently about future channel positions for local TV channels. This was coming into play from the 19th September. Now we learn where some extra new channels are going to be placed, again from the 19th September.
Channel 8 — Local TV (England and Northern Ireland)
Channel 45 — Local TV (Scotland and Wales)
Channel 1 — 99 – General Entertainment Channels
Channel 101 — 120 — HD channels
Channel 121 — 130 — Children’s TV
Channel 131 — 150 — News
Channel 170 & 199 — Bookend ‘slate’ channels to buffer the 18+ adult section
Channel 171 — 198 — 18+ Adult section
Channel 200 — 224 — Text services
Channel 225 — 299 — MHEG services
Channel 300 — 320 — Interactive services
Channel 400 — 499 — IP delivered services
Channel 700 — 750 — Radio
The different local news channels are peculiar but DMOL said that as Ofcom’s EPG code allowed “a measure of discrimination in favour of PSB channels,” and that “local services are by definition only available in a part of the country,” it saw “no particular value in ensuring that all local services have the same LCN [Local Channel Number].”
If you have a Freeview box, it should update automatically but many people normally find in these situations that they have to manually tune it in to pick up all the channels and changes to the Freeview EPG. The Digital UK Advice Line is coming back into action and will be on hand to answer any queries and help with any problems people are having.
There are also a lot of advertisements around to advise of the changes including on the Freeview website and TV listing magazines.
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