Al Jazeera changes Freeview service – but it’s not a conspiracy

[dutchman]

Online reports suggest Al Jazeera has been removed from Freeview because of its reporting



Freeview viewers can no longer watch Al Jazeera as a regular broadcast channel on Freeview from today (30th September 2024).

That’s sparked a return of social media reports claiming the channel has been “banned” in the UK. The claims first surfaced last year following the outbreak of the Gaza conflict. The claims resulted in Reuters issuing a fact check to debunk the allegation. In fact, the channel continued to be available on Freeview until this morning on channel 235.

Despite the escalating conflict in the Middle East, Al Jazeera’s current Freeview carriage agreement with multiplex operator Arqiva has ended. Viewers tuning in to Freeview channel 235 currently see a message directing them to a streaming version of the channel on 251.

Streaming alternative

Since 2023, both the English and Arabic language versions of Al Jazeera are available as streaming channels on Freeview. They were added as part of Freeview’s monthly channel update in March 2023 in the 280s, a section of the Freeview TV guide reserved for streaming channels (also known as IP channels).

The streaming services later changed channels. In August, Al Jazeera streaming moved to its current slot on channels 251 and 252. This change prompted Al Jazeera to officially announce the ‘launch’ of the streaming service, although they’d already been on the platform for over a year.

Unlike the previous standard definition (SD) service on channel 235, Freeview viewers with compatible connected TVs can stream Al Jazeera in high definition (HD). This now means Al Jazeera is available in HD on all platforms where it’s distributed in the UK.

Ahead of the change, a pop-up message alerted viewers of the impending change.

Al Jazeera English still available elsewhere

Sky, Virgin Media and Freesat viewers can continue to watch Al Jazeera English as normal. There are no changes on this platform. Ofcom continues to licence the channel in the UK.

You can also watch Al Jazeera online, including via YouTube.

Advice for Freely users

If you’re using Freely, the new free TV streaming platform built in to some smart TVs, you’ll find Al Jazeera English on 557 instead of channel 306.

The Freely TV guide advertises channel 251 – but this applies to Freeview users only – Freely piggybacks off the Freeview TV guide data.

Although the channel is streamed, your TV will need to be connected to an aerial to receive the information your TV needs to stream the channel.

[dutchman]

Freeview is rapidly going downhill. I remember when Al Jazeera was available in HD, not to mention Quest and Russia Today.

Why bother buying a Freeview receiver if everything you watch is online?