Music channel 4Music has dropped its encryption and is currently broadcasting free-to-air on satellite.

4Music, a joint venture between Channel 4 and Bauer Media, has since its launch been encrypted on satellite.

It was available without subscription, using a “Freesat from Sky” “free to view” viewing card.

A switch to free-to-air status would pave the way for the channel to be included on free-to-air satellite service Freesat, something a lot of viewers have requested over the years.

4Music’s sister channels, including The Box, went free-to-air on satellite in spring 2013 and were soon added to Freesat after years of being exclusively available via Sky on satellite.

The move of 4Music to free to air, means another channel is dropped from the “Freesat from Sky” “free to view” service, perhaps signalling the end of this service in the near future.

4Music Satellite tuning settings: Satellite: Astra 2E (28.2E) – UK spotbeam
Frequency: 10714
Polarisation: Horizontal
Symbol Rate: 22000
FEC: 5/6
Mode: DVB-S/QPSK