Two of Freeview\u2019s popular nostalgia channels have vanished into thin air this week, and nobody\u2019s saying why.<\/p>\n
That\u2019s TV and That\u2019s TV 2 disappeared from the platform on Monday evening, leaving thousands of viewers staring at a \u201ccurrently unavailable\u201d message instead of their nightly dose of classic British sitcoms and 80s pop songs.<\/p>\n
Nearly four days later, there\u2019s still no explanation, no apology, and \u2013 strangely \u2013 total silence from the broadcaster itself.<\/p>\n
What\u2019s Happened? <\/p>\n
Both That\u2019s TV (Freeview channel 56) and That\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The only official comment has come from Freeview\u2019s official \u201cAdvice\u201d account, which told frustrated viewers on social media today: \u201cUnfortunately, That\u2019s TV and That\u2019s TV 2 are currently down. They are aware of the problem and are working on a fix. Sorry for any inconvenience.\u201d<\/p>\n
So far, we have no explanation of what the problem actually is, no estimated timeframe for a fix, and complete radio silence from That\u2019s TV itself.<\/p>\n
The broadcaster\u2019s official X (formerly Twitter) account went quiet on December 8th, the day before the outage began.<\/p>\n
Since then, despite many complaints from viewers, there\u2019s been no statement and no acknowledgement of the issue.<\/p>\n
We\u2019ve reached out to both That\u2019s TV and Freeview for comment, but haven\u2019t received responses at the time of publication.<\/p>\n
Other Platforms Still Working <\/p>\n
Here\u2019s where the plot thickens: the blackout only affects Freeview (and Freely users who top up their internet channels with an aerial).<\/p>\n
If you\u2019ve got Freesat or Sky (satellite only), That\u2019s TV, and That\u2019s TV 2 are broadcasting as normal. The channels haven\u2019t disappeared completely \u2013 they\u2019ve just vanished from one specific platform.<\/p>\n
Furthermore, That\u2019s TV\u2019s other national channel, That\u2019s TV 3, and their seasonal offering That\u2019s Christmas, are also still happily broadcasting on Freeview. So are the company\u2019s 22 local TV channels across the UK.<\/p>\n
This selective outage suggests something specific has gone wrong with the way these two particular channels are delivered to Freeview \u2013 whether that\u2019s a technical issue, a contractual problem, or something else entirely.<\/p>\n
What Are These Channels Anyway? <\/p>\n
For those unfamiliar, That\u2019s TV and That\u2019s TV 2 specialise in nostalgic British television. We\u2019re talking classic sitcoms like Benidorm, Shameless, Rising Damp, Steptoe and Son, Birds of a Feather, and Man About the House \u2013 the sort of comfort viewing that\u2019s suitable for a weekday evening.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
That\u2019s TV 2, which only launched in January 2024, promised a haven for classic entertainment. Though its early days were rocky \u2013 we reported at the time<\/a> how Home and Away disappeared from schedules just two weeks after launch, disappointing fans who\u2019d been enjoying the early episodes.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n The Bigger Picture <\/p>\n That\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n These local services appear on Freeview channels 7 or 8 (depending on your area) and simulcast That\u2019s TV\u2019s national programming outside of local news slots.<\/p>\n So if you\u2019re in one of those areas and desperately need your That\u2019s TV fix, you might still be able to catch it via your local channel \u2013 though the national channels remain firmly offline.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n