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UK TV Channel line-up comparison

Can I get such-and-such a channel? Here's a table of TV channels and digital TV services.

 

Freeview Logo Sky Digital Logo BT Vision Logo Virgin Media Logo YouView Logo Freesat Logo Top Up TV Logo

 

Channel Comparison Table

Here's a summary of which major UK TV channels are available on each service. Scroll down for information on each service.

 
Sky Digital
Freeview
BT Vision
Virgin Media
Freesat
TalkTalk TV
Top Up TV
Alibi
Yes
No
No
Yes
No
No
No
BBC 3 / BBC4
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Cartoon Network
Yes
No
See Note 3
Yes
No
Yes
See Note 4
Comedy Central
Yes
No
See Note 3
Yes
No
Yes
See Note 4
Dave
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
Discovery Channel
Yes
No
See Note 3
Yes
No
Yes
No
Disney
3 channels
No
No
3 channels
No
Playhouse
No
ESPN (UK)
3 channels
Yes-Note 1
Yes-Note 2
2 channels
No
No
Yes
Eurosport (UK)
2 channels
No
No
2 channels
No
Yes
No
Film4
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
5* / 5 USA
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Fox
Yes
No
No
Yes
No
Yes
No
G.O.L.D
Yes
Via Top Up
No
Yes
No
Yes
Sort of !
History
Yes
No
No
Yes
No
No
See Note 4
ITV 2, ITV 3, ITV 4
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Movies 24
Yes
No
No
Yes
No
No
No
National Geographic
Yes
No
See Note 3
Yes
No
Yes
See Note 4
Quest
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
No
Yes
SyFy (Sci-Fi)
Yes
No
No
Yes
No
Yes
See Note 4
Sky Atlantic
Yes
No
No
No
No
No
No
Sky Living
Yes
No
No
Yes
No
No
No
Sky Movies
11 + 2 HD
No
No
11 channels
No
4 channels
No
Sky News
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
Sky 1
YES + HD
No
No
Yes
No
Yes
No
Sky Sports
5 + 5 HD
No
2 Channels
4 + 2 HD
No
4 channels
2 Channels
Universal (was Hallmark)
Yes
No
No
Yes
No
Yes
See Note 4
Yesterday
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
Line-up out-of-date, or missing a channel you're interested in? Let us know

 

Channel Notes

Note 1: ESPN: ESPN requires a separate subscription. A viewing card is needed. For Freeview, a digital TV, or Freeview set-top box must have a suitable card slot. More on our ESPN on Freeview page.

Note 2: ESPN on BT Vision: ESPN requires a separate subscription. On-demand content also available. More on our ESPN FAQ

Note 3: BT Vision: Channels such as Comedy Central and Cartoon Network are not available on BT Vision, but content from these channels is available to be watched "on demand" via the BT Vision box. More on BT Vision

Note 4: Top Up TV Anytime: The full channels are not available to be viewed in real-time, but a small selection of shows from these channels is downloaded overnight, and can be played back from the Top Up TV Anytime box for the next seven days.

 

Digital TV Providers:

Sky Digital

Sky LogoWidest choice of channels. Received with satellite dish and set-top box. Also offering over 50 High Definition channels.

For more details on Sky, see our Sky Digital Information page, or go to www.sky.com/shop.

Freeview

Freeview LogoReceived via a TV aerial on a special set-top box or on a TV with a built-in Freeview receiver.

See our Freeview pages for details.

Cable

Virgin Media Logo Available to parts of the UK via underground cabling and a Cable TV set-top box.

More on our Cable TV page, or at www.virginmedia.com

Freesat

Freesat logoSubscription-free satellite TV service that launched in May 2008.

More on our Freesat page.

BT Vision

BT Vision LogoFree to customers of BT Total Broadband. Live TV channels, plus on-demand TV and movies over Broadband.

More on our BT Vision page

TalkTalk TV

TalkTalk TV offerAvailable in parts of the UK. TV channels via a special box that's connected to your phone line. Known as Tiscali TV until January 2010.

More on our TalkTalk TV page or at talktalk.co.uk/tv

Top Up TV Anytime

Top Up TV LogoSpecial box that offers the Freeview channels, access to a small number of extra channels, and downloads special TV content overnight onto the built-in hard-disk.

See our Top Up TV Anytime page for details

 

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