Two of Freeview’s popular nostalgia channels have vanished into thin air this week, and nobody’s saying why.
That’s TV and That’s TV 2 disappeared from the platform on Monday evening, leaving thousands of viewers staring at a “currently unavailable” message instead of their nightly dose of classic British sitcoms and 80s pop songs.
Nearly four days later, there’s still no explanation, no apology, and – strangely – total silence from the broadcaster itself.
What’s Happened?
Both That’s TV (Freeview channel 56) and That’s TV 2 (Freeview channel 65) have been completely off air since Monday evening. Instead of the usual lineup of classic sitcoms, entertainment shows and retro music videos, Freeview users are simply told the channels are unavailable.
The only official comment has come from Freeview’s official “Advice” account, which told frustrated viewers on social media today: “Unfortunately, That’s TV and That’s TV 2 are currently down. They are aware of the problem and are working on a fix. Sorry for any inconvenience.”
So far, we have no explanation of what the problem actually is, no estimated timeframe for a fix, and complete radio silence from That’s TV itself.
The broadcaster’s official X (formerly Twitter) account went quiet on December 8th, the day before the outage began.
Since then, despite many complaints from viewers, there’s been no statement and no acknowledgement of the issue.
We’ve reached out to both That’s TV and Freeview for comment, but haven’t received responses at the time of publication.
Other Platforms Still Working
Here’s where the plot thickens: the blackout only affects Freeview (and Freely users who top up their internet channels with an aerial).
If you’ve got Freesat or Sky (satellite only), That’s TV, and That’s TV 2 are broadcasting as normal. The channels haven’t disappeared completely – they’ve just vanished from one specific platform.
Furthermore, That’s TV’s other national channel, That’s TV 3, and their seasonal offering That’s Christmas, are also still happily broadcasting on Freeview. So are the company’s 22 local TV channels across the UK.
This selective outage suggests something specific has gone wrong with the way these two particular channels are delivered to Freeview – whether that’s a technical issue, a contractual problem, or something else entirely.
What Are These Channels Anyway?
For those unfamiliar, That’s TV and That’s TV 2 specialise in nostalgic British television. We’re talking classic sitcoms like Benidorm, Shameless, Rising Damp, Steptoe and Son, Birds of a Feather, and Man About the House – the sort of comfort viewing that’s suitable for a weekday evening.
That’s TV 2, which only launched in January 2024, promised a haven for classic entertainment. Though its early days were rocky – we reported at the time how Home and Away disappeared from schedules just two weeks after launch, disappointing fans who’d been enjoying the early episodes.
The channels also air plenty of music videos alongside their retro TV offerings, making them a go-to destination for viewers who prefer their entertainment with a dash of nostalgia.
The Bigger Picture
That’s TV operates a sprawling network of local television channels across the UK, broadcasting in 22 locations including Belfast, Cambridge, Edinburgh, Manchester, Reading, Sheffield, Swansea and York.
These local services appear on Freeview channels 7 or 8 (depending on your area) and simulcast That’s TV’s national programming outside of local news slots.
So if you’re in one of those areas and desperately need your That’s TV fix, you might still be able to catch it via your local channel – though the national channels remain firmly offline.
The company hasn’t had the smoothest relationship with regulators recently. In November, Ofcom concluded a fresh investigation into That’s TV after finding several of its local outlets had failed to broadcast sufficient first-run local news.
Photo: Deposit Photos / Rafapress
The regulator raised concerns that some channels had cut back their news output, with some using repeated bulletins to meet licence obligations. In some cases, a 15-minute evening bulletin was simply looped during early morning hours.
In return for licence renewals allowing That’s TV to keep its local Freeview slots until 2034, Ofcom imposed stricter requirements – including bans on rebroadcasting the same news stories for more than 24 hours and using information screens as a primary means of news updates.
What Happens Next?
The truth is, we don’t know. Without any statement from That’s TV explaining the nature of the problem, viewers are left guessing whether this is a simple technical glitch that’ll be resolved shortly, or something more serious.
Four days is a long time for a channel to be completely off air without explanation – especially two channels simultaneously. Most technical issues get sorted within hours, not days.
For now, if you’re a That’s TV fan who relies on Freeview, you’ve got three options: switch to Freesat or Sky if you have access to those platforms, check if your local That’s TV channel is carrying the programming, or simply wait and hope for answers.
We’ll update this article if and when That’s TV or Freeview provide any further information about what’s caused this mysterious blackout.
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