Freeview channel numbers change on September 19th 2012
Brian Butterworth published on UK Free TV DMOL (DTT Multiplex Operators Ltd), the company that manages the channel numbers used on Freeview, have decided to make some changes to the allocations to allow the Freeview platform to grow over the next three to five years.
The changes will happen from lunchtime on Wednesday 19th September 2012. In summary the changes are:
- Adult channels move to 171-198
News channels move to 131-150Children's move to 121-130
Proposed changes to the News and Children's genres will be put on hold pending the outcome of an appeal by Sky. All other changes will continue as planned on 19 September 2012.- HD channels move to 101-120
- General entertainment channels now have 1-99
- Text services move to 200-224
- MHEG services move to 225-299
- Interactive channels stay on 300-320
- IPTV channels move to 400-499
- Radio stays at 700-750
- Manufacturer allocation remains 800-899
Adult channels move to 171-198
The "adult" channels on Freeview move up from 92-99 to start from 171. Channel 170 and 199 will be "bookend" pages to note the presence of the adult channels for those who flick up and down the channels.171 Television X; 172 smileTV2, 173 smileTV3, 174 Babestn, 175 PARTY, 176 Blue, 177 Babestn2, 178 Playboy.
News channels move to 131-150
Children's move to 121-130
HD channels move to 101-120
The "normal" order of channels is restored to HD:101 BBC One HD; 102 BBC HD [or BBC TWO HD]; 103 ITV1 HD or STV HD; 104 Channel 4 HD; 105 S4C Cirlun.
Note that S4C Cirlun is due to close at the end of the year. BBC TWO HD is planned to replace the BBC HD channel at some point in 2012.
General entertainment channels now have 1-99
There will be twice as many channel numbers now for "general entertainment", allocated on a first-come first-served basis. Most channels do not move numbers, except48 Food Network; 49 The Jewellery Channel.
Channel 8 is reserved for the Local TV services in England and Northern Ireland, 45 for Local TV in Scotland and Wales.
100 is a "Navigation page", but only on Freeview HD.
Text services move to 200-224
200 BBC Red Button; 201 Teletext Holidays; 202 Rabbit; 203 Gay Rabbit; 204 1-2-1 Dating; 205 Mail Travel; 206 Sky Text.MHEG services move to 225-299
225 VISION; 226 CCTV; 227 Sports Tonight; 228 Connect 1; 229 Connect 2; 230 Connect 3; 231 Racing TV; 232 The Space.Interactive channels stay on 300-320
301 301; 302 302; 303 301 HD; 304 Channel 0; 305 TUTV Anytime 1; 306 TUTV Anytime 3; 307 TUTV Anytime 5; 208 TUTV Anytime 6.IPTV channels move to 400-499
These will be used in future.Radio stays at 700-750
No changes to radio.Manufacturer allocation remains 800-899
No changes to manufacturer allocation.Help with Television sets?
Wednesday, 12 September 2012
Richard: I suspect that receivers can just be left as they are.
I will be surprised if they all stop showing a picture on the affected services at the moment that the logical channel numbers (LCNs) change.
I think that it simply means that retunes after the change will result in the new LCNs being used.
These are just my own opinions; I'm not a professional.
This is all quite silly because Tyne Tees area has just had its first stage of switchover and its second and final one will be in two weeks' time. Why on earth didn't they just make the changes to LCNs happen to coincide with that switchover so that people in the area don't have any need to retune three times??
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Richard
12:19 PM
London
12:19 PM
London
Thanks Dave.
however I have since called the Digital TV helpline people who helped a lot of the residents when they did DSO, and they said that yes all freeview TV's and STB's, including Top UP TV and BT Vision boxes, will need to be retuned as they are also increasing the frequency as well as the channel number changes apparently, so unfortunately looks like I will be very busy on the 19th Sept!
I agree, why do they do these things, without thinking of the impact it will have, I know the scheme manager here is going to be inundated with queries as to why their TV has stopped working, and wont remember that they were advised in a newsletter earlier asking them if they need help to retune their equipment.
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Richard's: mapR's Freeview map terrainR's terrain plot wavesR's frequency data R's Freeview Detailed Coverage
Richard
12:22 PM
London
12:22 PM
London
Also I notice that the Radio Times doesn't even mention this change, and simply amends the channel number for the channels that are changing (mainly hd)!
Why they can't advertise this change properly as they said they were going to do, as putting up on screen messages confuses a lot of people who don't understand what they mean!
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Richard's: mapR's Freeview map terrainR's terrain plot wavesR's frequency data R's Freeview Detailed Coverage
Richard: I have to say that I am still not sure.
There would appear to be two main possibilities:
1. The LCNs of particular services change and at the point this happens those services become unavailable to anyone who has NOT retuned.
2. The LCNs of particular services change but those services continue to be viewable to those who haven't retuned and are therefore watching them via the old LCNs.
Number 1 is more profound and will lead to blank screens on particular services (e.g. LCN80 BBC News).
It all comes down to what "need" to retune means.
What I think that you consider it to mean is if possibility number 1 occurs. If it is number 2, then viewers might consider that they don't "need" to do anything and will continue as they are (or indeed some may be unaware of these changes).
Any mention of increases in capacity is simply to provide more LCNs for particular uses. For those who aren't interested in the new services, it follows that if it is possibility number 2, then they "can" if they wish continue as they are.
No doubt though that they will put these annoying messages on the screen.
They are potentially misleading and, in some cases, call viewers into action (i.e. retuning) when it isn't necessary. Or the result will be that the wrong transmitter will be tuned in and hence poor reception.
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Thursday, 13 September 2012
K
Kev12:15 PM
Since about 22 August 2012 owners of the 3View PVR are experiencing lockups of the receiver.
This is being put down to changes in the "SI Data".
Could you please tell me what changes were made around that date that have turned a previously working PVR into a non working PVR.
There are a dedicated bunch of owners who are hell bent on keeping this PVR working since the demise of the 3View Company.
Thanks .
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Friday, 14 September 2012
J
JG3:22 PM
Hi
I also would like to see a reply to the post by Kev on 13th re "SI Data"
For me it started on 25th Aug around 21:30
I am on the Craigkelly transmitter in Fife, Scotland.
Thanks
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Richard
4:48 PM
4:48 PM
Well it just gets better and better:
a516_digital: DMOL's Freeview EPG reshuffle descends into chaos (SW129HU)
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Richard: What a total and utter http://upload.wikimedia.o….jpg
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