Popular TV channel to disappear for millions of Freeview users in days – but there are still two ways to tune in
INTERNATIONAL news channel Al Jazeera is set to disappear from regular broadcasting next week, as it transitions into a streaming-only service.
A pop-up message on Al Jazeera’s broadcast channel warns viewers that the station will stop its traditional service beamed in via an aerial on 30 September.
The shake-up comes 14 years after the channel first appeared on Freeview.
It is a result of an expiring Digital Terrestrial carriage deal between Al Jazeera’s English channel and Freeview multiplex operator Arqiva.
That’s why the channel removal is scheduled to take place outside of Freeview’s monthly channel update, which usually occurs on the third day of each month.
The change affects Freeview users watching Al Jazeera on channel 235, Freely hybrid TV viewers on channel 306, and EE TV customers on channel 235.
Despite a transition to Wi-Fi streaming, Al Jazeera is not available on EE TV boxes switched to Internet mode.
However, there are two other internet-based ways to tune in to the outlet.
Al Jazeera will live on as a streaming channel on smart TVs that support Freeview Play, Freeview’s on-demand service, or the newly launched platform Freely.
What is Freely?
Freely is the country's newest way to watch TV without an aerial, from the makers of Freeview and Freesat.
It is a platform that comes built into select smart TVs after launching in April this year.
Freely is operated by the main broadcasters, BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5 via an umbrella company known as Everyone TV.
This means it has full access to the content that comes out of the UK’s Big Four broadcasters – that’s around 70,000 hours worth of content, according to Freely.
The platform hosts big-hits like The Traitors, I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here!, Happy Valley, Doctor Who, Married at First Sight and Strictly Come Dancing.
Through Freely, viewers can watch live TV channels, as well as access streaming apps like Netflix, Disney+, Apple TV and now U (formerly UKTV).
Which channels?
On Freeview Play, Al Jazeera English will remain on channel 251, where it has been since August.
Al Jazeera Arabic is available on channel 252.
On Freely, Al Jazeera English is free to stream on channel 557, and its Arabic version on 558.
It’s worth noting that Freely users will still need to be connected to a TV aerial despite Al Jazeera being streamed.
The TV aerial will only be used to supplement your connection if your Wi-Fi or broadband goes down.
Freely users with a satellite capable smart TV can continue watching via satellite.