Been away on holiday for a week, so there have been no updates to TelevisionSRS lately. Thankfully, it appears that there is only one major to story to bring to you.
The UK version of Travelxp has closed on Freeview. The closure took place at 1pm on Monday 1st July.
The channel showed back to back travel documentaries, and is expected to return on the Sky satellite platform after a hiatus.
Update: Travelxp have confirmed the UK service will return on the 1st August on Sky.
True Crime will leave Sky (satellite) and Virgin Media (cable), at the end of programming on the 30th June. The channel was reinstated in February, replacing the UK version of the TruTV channel. True Crime is also available on Freeview in Manchester, but it is unclear whether this outlet will continue.
Meanwhile on Freeview, True Entertainment and True Movies and will be reducing their coverage area from midday tomorrow. A re-tune will be required for viewers remaining within the coverage area to be able to continue to receive these services. However, both will gain a more prominent channel number with True Entertainment moving from channel 61 to 48, and True Movies moving channel 62 to 50.
Movies4Men+1 and Sony Movies+1 currently occupy slots 48 and 50 on Freeview (respectively), and it is unclear what will happen to these channels. A move to numbers 61 and 62, would seem likely.
All of the channels mentioned above are owned by Sony Pictures Television.
Satellite provider Sky has reorganised the International channels on its EPG. Hindi, Urdu, Punjabi, Bengali and Arabic language channels are now group together, with new numbers assigned to them.
Viewers don’t need to take any action, as the changes will take place automatically. Series links will be unaffected.
A full list of the channels and their numbers can be found on Sky’s website.
STV has launch HD (high definition) versions of its channel for Aberdeen, Edinburgh, and Tayside on Sky. This means that all Sky viewers can now find the HD version of the channel on 103, as there is a HD version for all STV regions.
There was a slight delay in the launch of the new versions. They were meant to launch on May 1st, but did not go live until the 2nd.
Freesat viewers are unaffected by the change, as the new versions of STV HD are broadcast on a Pan-European satellite and are encrypted. The Glasgow version of STV HD is still available on 111 for Freesat viewers.
Television station Keep It Country is to rebrand to Spotlight TV. The name change is to reflect the fact that the channel has diversified into other genres such as easy listening.
The channel has indicated that some programming changes will be made, although the full extent of these changes is yet to be announced.
The channel is currently available on Freeview 87, Freesat 516, and Sky 376.
Football club TV channel Chelsea TV is to go subscription free from the 1st July 2019.
The channel will be available for free on the clubs website www.chelseafc.com, and their app The 5th Stand.
As a consequence, the channel will no longer be available on Sky in the UK and Ireland.
More information is available via the club’s website.
