Telly fans gutted as much-loved free channel is NOT returning to Freeview
HOPES of a popular channel returning to Freeview have been dashed.
Telly lovers have had to contend with a number of stations disappearing recently.
In January, Viaplay Xtra – previously known as Freesports – was pulled from the airwaves after seven years.
Months later sport fans were dealt another blow when free channel SportyStuff closed after 12 years.
The shake-up left a void on UK screens with no free channels devoted entirely to sport available any longer.
Premier Sports recently bought back its channels from Viaplay, which meant Premier Sports 1 and Premier Sports 2 were revived.
Fans were hoping this might mean the company’s old Freesports channel will be resurrected too.
It was last seen on Freeview in 2022.
But in a disappointing update on social media, the firm has revealed that there are no plans to bring Freesports back.
“Will the FreeSports channel be returning,” a user wrote on X.
Premier Sports replied: “Hi there, there is no plans for FreeSports to return unfortunately.”
Latest channel changes on Freeview
Freeview has lost a number of channels already this year.
Kids station Tiny Pop decided to go digital only in March, removing the channel from all platforms including Freeview, Sky and Virgin Media.
More recently, several much loved radio stations were taken off Freeview too.
These include:
- Greatest Hits Radio
- Hits Radio
- Kerrang! Radio
- KISS Fresh
- KISSTORY
- Magic Radio
But it’s not all bad news, as a brand new channel called GREAT! Real launched with programmes focused on real life stories.