Channel 4 HD and All4 to leave Freesat on 22nd February 2018

All 4 and 4HD will be leaving Freesat on Thursday 22nd February, 2018.

Channel 4 is still available in standard definition, but any recordings you have scheduled for 4HD will need to be re-set in SD (via channel 104).

Channel 4 hasn’t provided a reason why it has made the highly controversial move and Freesat says it hopes the channels will return in the future. But a statement available on the internet supposedly from a Channel 4 spokesperson says : “We’re disappointed Freesat is changing its charging structure, leading to a very significant cost increase for Channel 4, which ultimately takes funding away from our content investment budget. To reduce the overall burden of our Freesat costs and make internal savings we have regrettably given notice to withdraw All 4 and C4 HD while we consider our long term relationship with Freesat.”. IF this is a case, then it is simply down to a cost issue.

In a statement Freesat says

We’re sorry to announce that All 4 and 4HD will be leaving Freesat on Thursday 22nd February, 2018.

Channel 4 is still available in standard definition, but any recordings you have scheduled for 4HD will need to be re-set in SD (via channel 104).

E4, More 4, 4seven and Film4 remain unaffected and can be accessed via the TV guide as usual, but the rollback guide and catch-up TV for all of the Channel 4 channels will no longer be available via your Freesat box.

If you have any questions about these changes please read our Q&A here, and to find out where else you can watch All 4 please visit all4.com/how-to-watch

Thanks,
The Freesat Team

Freesat will continue to offer Channel 4 SD, alongside the existing SD offshoot channels E4, More 4, Film 4 and 4seven, which remain unaffected and can be accessed via the TV guide as usual, but the rollback guide and catch-up TV for all of the Channel 4 channels will no longer be available via your Freesat box.

At the moment it is unclear if the channel will simply be removed from the Freesat channel list, and may mean it is still free to air and available on Freesat boxes via “non Freesat mode”.

Although Channel 4 has a deal with Sky which involves the encryption of its other HD channels, legislation that requires the main public service broadcasters to be free-to-air on satellite currently only apply to standard definition channels. There is no indication that Channel 4 HD will “go pay”, or for how long the channel will be removed from Freesat.

There is always the chance of a last minute reprieve, and Channel 4 HD remains on Freesat.

Channel 4 HD will still be available on Sky channel 227.

Channel 4 HD Frequency for Freesat boxes in NON FREESAT MODE
Frequency 11126
Polarisation V
Symbol Rate 22000
FEC 5/6

How to add Channel 4 HD to your Humax Freesat box