FREEVIEW CHANNEL 55/COM7
Posted on 22nd June 2022 at 16:51
At the end of June, the licence to run the UK’s seventh national Freeview multiplex (COM7) expires. Its frequency is being reused for 5G services. At this point, all channels on the multiplex will have to move or close
The BBC has now confirmed BBC Four HD and CBeebies HD will be reprieved. They will be squeezed into existing Freeview HD capacity and, in a positive development, both BBC Four HD and CBeebies HD will become more widely available following the changes. Their current COM7 Freeview slot only reaches around 70% of UK households. In their new home, UK coverage will reach nearly every household with HD TV equipment. However, there won’t be enough room to accommodate BBC News HD on the existing Freeview HD capacity once multiplex COM7 closes. As a result, the channel will go SD only (channel 231).
Other affected channels
Other channels affected by the COM7 switch-off include More4+1, Quest HD, QVC HD, Forces TV, FreeSports and NOW 80s. Forces TV operator BFBS has now confirmed that Forces TV will close completely on 30th June 2022. PBS America +1 has confirmed it will no longer continue on Freeview after 30th June 2022. We haven’t yet heard the fate of the other affected channels.
Source: CAI News 22/06/22
Share this post: