BT Sport has confirmed that both the UEFA Europa League and Champions League finals will be shown free of charge.
The matches will be shown live on BT Sport’s website and Youtube channel. The matches can also be watched on BT Sport’s app for a variety of devices such as Apple TV and Xbox One, and via Virgin Media (cable) channel 532.
Following on from the report that Eleven Sports had handed back its Ofcom licenses, they have reappeared on Ofcom’s list of cable and satellite license holders. There a three services listed; Eleven Sports 1 UK, Eleven Sports 2 UK, and Eleven Extra Bel (presumably the latter is a Belgium service).
This suggests that they are still planning on launching a ‘conventional’ channel in the UK, but could also be an error on Ofcom’s list. The full list of satellite and cable license holders can be view on Ofcom’s website.
Eleven Sports continues to operate in the UK online.
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Freesports, the free to air sports channel, has commenced HD (high definition) tests on satellite. Currently a test card is being displayed, with a full EPG.
The tests are unencrypted, meaning that the Freesports HD service is likely to be available on both Sky and Freesat. It has not yet been confirmed when the channel will launch.
Freesports abandoned an earlier attempt at launching a HD channel on satellite last year, and instead launched the HD version exclusively on cable service Virgin Media.
Following the downgrading of the Sony Crime Channel Freeview service, RXTV-Log has reported a large number of complaints on social media. Sony appear to have responded by simply removing the Facebook and Twitter pages entirely.
There is speculation that the channel may not last much longer, however given some high profile business departures from social media such as Wetherspoons, this appears to be an attempt to control bad publicity.
In other connected news, children’s channel Pop Max has increased its broadcast hours on Freeview, and Movies for Men has taken over the ’40’ channel number from the Sony Crime Channel.
Al Jazeera English has taken a slot on the COM6/ArqB Freeview multiplex, and will officially launch in standard definition on May 30th with channel number 235.
This compliments the channels HD version, which only has a limited coverage area on temporary multiplex. Viewers with non-HD equipment will now also be able to view the channel on Freeview
Virgin Media will continue to sponsor Southampton Football Club, under a renewed sponsorship agreement.
The deal will run to the end of the 2021/22 season. Virgin Media will be the sleeve sponsor for the first, under 18, and under 23 squads. From the start of next season, Virgin Media will become the first ever shirt sponsor for the women’s team, with their logo appearing on the front of the shirts.
Virgin Media, who provide broadband, TV, and mobile services, first started to sponsor Southampton Football Club at the beginning of the 2016/17 season.
On Thursday, the BBC started a tour of British libraries, to showcase the virtual reality (VR) video content that it has to offer.
As part of a joint initiative with Libraries Connected, and Scottish Library and Information Council, members of the public are able to try out VR experiences, using equipment supplied by the BBC.
The full list of upcoming tour dates can be viewed here.
From tomorrow, the Sony Crime Channel will be cut down to a two hour placeholder on Freeview. Earlier this year, the channel had its coverage area cut, when it moved to a different frequency. The channel will also change number from 40 down to 60.
Sony Crime Channel only launched 15 months ago, replacing True Crime on Freeview, and Sony Channel on satellite. True Crime was reinstated in February this year, replacing Tru TV.
Channel numbers on several Channel 4 channels on Freeview will be changing on 13th May, following Channel 4s full acquisition of the Box Plus Network that was previously a joint venture.
E4 will move from 28 to 13 which is currently home to Channel 4+1. Film 4 moves to 14, with Channel 4+1 taking over 15. More 4 moves from 14 to 4 Music’s current number of 18.
E4+1 will move up slightly to 28, with 4 Music being pushed down to 29.
These changes will also affect Youview powered services from BT and TalkTalk, as these rely on Freeview from some of their channels.
The table below shows all of the old and new channel numbers.
| Channel | Old Number | New Number |
| Channel 4 + 1 | 13 | 15 |
| E4 | 28 | 13 |
| E4+1 | 29 | 28 |
| Film 4 | 15 | 14 |
| More 4 | 14 | 18 |
| 4 Music | 18 | 29 |
Due to the UK leaving the European Union (EU), Eleven Sports has now licensed its continental channels elsewhere, as UK broadcast licenses can no longer extend to other parts of the EU when the UK leaves.
Eleven Sports has been unable to obtain any carriage agreements on satellite or cable in the UK, they no longer require their Ofcom licenses, so have handed them back to the regulator.
Eleven Sports remains available online in the UK at www.elevensports.uk.
