Tour de France Returns Free-to-Air on Channel 5

 For cycling fans across the UK, there's some welcome news. The Tour de France is returning to free-to-air television, with Channel 5 once again showing daily highlights of the world's biggest cycling race.

The agreement means viewers won't need a paid sports subscription to keep up with the action from France, bringing one of the summer's most iconic sporting events back to millions of homes through Freeview, Freesat and other free television platforms.

While live coverage remains available through subscription broadcasters, Channel 5's highlights package ensures that the race continues to be accessible to a much wider audience, helping introduce new viewers to one of the most demanding and spectacular sporting events in the world. (satandpcguy.com)

A Welcome Return

The Tour de France has enjoyed a long history on British television.

For many years, cycling fans could follow the race through free-to-air highlights as well as live coverage, helping the sport grow significantly in popularity during the era of riders such as Sir Bradley Wiggins, Chris Froome, Geraint Thomas and Mark Cavendish.

In recent years, however, changes to broadcasting rights meant that much of the race moved behind pay-TV services, leaving many casual viewers with fewer opportunities to follow each stage.

Channel 5's new agreement reverses that trend by bringing a comprehensive highlights programme back to free television every evening.

What Viewers Can Watch

The daily highlights programme will include:

• The key moments from each stage

• Sprint finishes and mountain battles

• General classification changes

• Expert analysis

• Rider interviews

• Behind-the-scenes features

• Updates on the race for the yellow jersey

Rather than showing every kilometre live, the programme condenses several hours of racing into an easy-to-watch highlights package, making it ideal for viewers who cannot spend an entire afternoon following the race live.

Live Coverage Still Available Elsewhere

Although Channel 5 will show highlights, viewers wanting to watch every stage live will still need a subscription service.

Live coverage remains available through TNT Sports, following Warner Bros. Discovery's decision to integrate Eurosport into its UK sports offering.

That means dedicated cycling fans can continue watching complete live stages from the race start through to the finish line, while casual viewers can catch up each evening on Channel 5. (satandpcguy.com)

Why Free-to-Air Coverage Matters

The return of highlights is important for more than just existing cycling fans.

Free-to-air sport plays a vital role in attracting new audiences.

Many people discover sports simply because they happen to be available on free television.

Without that accessibility, younger viewers and casual fans are far less likely to develop an interest.

The Tour de France is particularly well suited to highlight programmes because each stage tells its own story, from dramatic mountain climbs and breakaways to high-speed sprint finishes and tactical battles between the leading teams.

A Showcase for France

The Tour de France isn't just a sporting event.

It is also one of the world's greatest travel showcases.

Every stage passes through spectacular scenery, including:

• Alpine mountain passes

• Pyrenean climbs

• vineyards

• medieval towns

• coastal roads

• historic cities

• rural villages

Helicopter cameras and aerial coverage provide breathtaking views that have become almost as famous as the racing itself.

For many viewers, the landscapes are as much a part of the attraction as the competition.

Good News for Channel 5

The Tour de France also strengthens Channel 5's growing sports portfolio.

While the broadcaster is primarily known for entertainment, documentaries and factual programming, it has increasingly invested in selected sporting events that appeal to broad audiences.

Adding Tour de France highlights gives the channel a prestigious international event during the busy summer television schedule and helps attract viewers who may not otherwise watch the channel.

It also provides valuable opportunities to promote Channel 5's wider range of programmes to a large, engaged audience.

Cycling Continues to Grow

Professional cycling has become increasingly popular in the UK over the past two decades.

British success in the Tour de France, Olympic Games and World Championships introduced millions of new fans to the sport.

Although audience figures naturally fluctuate from year to year, the Tour remains one of the largest annual sporting events in the world, attracting global television audiences measured in the billions over the course of the three-week race.

Free-to-air highlights help maintain that popularity by ensuring the event remains visible beyond dedicated cycling enthusiasts.

What This Means for Viewers

For many households, the return of free highlights is the best of both worlds.

Those with sports subscriptions can continue enjoying every stage live.

Everyone else can still follow the race without paying extra.

With many television rights moving behind subscription services, the return of a major international sporting event to free television is a welcome reminder that some premium sport can still be enjoyed without an additional monthly bill.

The Bottom Line

The return of the Tour de France highlights to Channel 5 is excellent news for UK cycling fans and for free-to-air television.

Daily highlights will once again allow millions of viewers to enjoy the biggest moments of each stage without needing a subscription, helping to keep one of the world's most famous sporting events accessible to a broad audience.

While dedicated fans can still follow every kilometre live through TNT Sports, Channel 5's coverage ensures that spectacular finishes, dramatic mountain stages and the battle for the famous yellow jersey remain available to everyone.

At a time when more sporting events are moving behind paywalls, bringing the Tour de France back to free television is a positive development for viewers, for the sport and for the future of accessible sports broadcasting in the UK.

Further reading and information available here

 

What You Actually Get With Channels+ on Freely TV

If you've recently bought a Freely-compatible TV or one of the new Freely streaming devices, you've probably noticed a feature called Channels+.

For many viewers, it's one of the first things that raises questions.

Is it a subscription service? Does it cost extra? Are the channels really free? Or is it simply another collection of streaming apps?

The name itself can be a little misleading, leading some people to assume that Channels+ is a premium upgrade similar to Sky or Virgin Media channel packs. Fortunately, that's not what it is at all.

Here's everything you need to know about Channels+, what it offers, and why it has become an important part of the Freely experience.

What Is Channels+?

Channels+ is best thought of as a hub for additional internet-delivered television channels.

Unlike the main Freely TV guide, which brings together the UK's public service broadcasters and many traditional live television channels, Channels+ focuses on extra streaming channels delivered entirely over your broadband connection.

Rather than opening separate apps to find more content, Channels+ brings many of these services together in one place, making them easier to discover and watch.

It is designed to complement Freely rather than replace it.

Please Subscribe to the Youtube Channel. Its free to subscribe, helps the channel grow, and make sure you never miss a new video release.:

Does Channels+ Cost Anything?

This is probably the question most people ask.

The simple answer is no.

Access to the Channels+ section itself is completely free.

However, what you find inside can vary.

Many of the channels available are entirely free to watch, while others may promote subscription services or offer premium content through third-party providers. In those cases, any payment is between you and the individual streaming service—not Freely or Channels+ itself.

So, browsing Channels+ doesn't mean you've signed up to anything or that you'll suddenly receive a monthly bill.

What Kind of Channels Are Included?

The selection changes over time as new content providers join the platform and others update their offerings.

Depending on your device and when you're using it, you may find:

• specialist entertainment channels
• movie channels
• documentary channels
• children's content
• news services
• lifestyle programming
• music channels
• shopping channels
• themed FAST (Free Ad-Supported Television) channels

Many of these channels stream continuously, much like traditional television, but are delivered over the internet instead of via an aerial or satellite dish.

As Freely continues to grow, more channels are expected to be added. Everyone TV has already expanded the platform several times, with additional broadcasters and themed channels joining during 2026.

Why Doesn't Everything Appear in the Main TV Guide?

Some viewers wonder why Channels+ exists at all.

Why not simply place every channel into the normal programme guide?

The answer largely comes down to how the channels are delivered.

Traditional broadcast channels have fixed channel numbers and are transmitted nationally through terrestrial transmitters.

Many Channels+ services are internet-only streams supplied by different providers, often with changing content or advertising models. Keeping them in a separate section allows Freely to add, remove or update channels much more easily without affecting the main television guide.

It also helps viewers distinguish between traditional broadcast television and internet-delivered streaming channels.

How Does This Compare With Freeview and Freesat?

This is where Freely starts to show how television is evolving.

For decades, platforms like Freeview and Freesat relied almost entirely on broadcast technology.

Freely takes a different approach.

Instead of depending solely on an aerial or satellite dish, it combines live television, catch-up services and streaming channels into a single interface delivered primarily over broadband.

Channels+ is one of the clearest examples of this change.

Rather than limiting viewers to the channels carried on traditional broadcast networks, Freely can continually introduce new streaming channels without needing extra broadcast capacity.

This gives the platform much greater flexibility and allows it to evolve more quickly than conventional television systems.

Do You Need an Aerial?

Not necessarily.

One of Freely's biggest selling points is that most supported devices can stream live television over your internet connection alone.

For viewers with a compatible Freely TV or streaming device, Channels+ works entirely through broadband.

Some Freely devices also support an aerial connection, allowing you to add extra broadcast channels that are not yet available via internet streaming. At present, not every Freeview channel is available over broadband, although Freely says the number continues to grow.

Is Channels+ Worth Using?

Absolutely—especially if you enjoy discovering new content.

Because the service includes many niche and themed channels, it often provides programmes you might never have found through traditional television.

It also offers a convenient way to explore free streaming television without having to install and manage numerous separate apps.

The experience feels much more like browsing television than searching through multiple streaming services.

The Future of Television

Channels+ offers a glimpse into where free television is heading.

Rather than thinking of television as something delivered only through an aerial or satellite dish, platforms like Freely increasingly combine live channels, on-demand viewing and internet streaming into one seamless experience.

As more broadcasters launch free streaming channels and FAST services continue to grow in popularity, features like Channels+ are likely to become even more important.

For viewers, that's good news. It means more choice, more free content and a television platform that can continue expanding without the limitations of traditional broadcasting.

While the name "Channels+" may initially suggest a paid upgrade, the reality is much simpler. It's a convenient gateway to additional internet-delivered television, helping Freely bridge the gap between traditional broadcasting and the streaming future.

As Freely continues to evolve, Channels+ is likely to become one of the platform's most valuable features, giving viewers access to an ever-growing range of free content with just a few clicks.

Further reading and information available here

The Rise and Fall of UK Satellite TV Piracy

 Long before illegal IPTV apps and hacked streaming sticks became mainstream, satellite TV piracy was the biggest battle facing broadcasters like Sky. From modified viewing cards and hacked receivers to internet card-sharing networks, the UK’s satellite TV industry spent decades fighting a constant technological cat-and-mouse game.

The story of satellite piracy is closely linked to the growth of digital television itself. During the late 1990s and early 2000s, pirate smart cards and unofficial CAM modules allowed viewers to unlock premium movie and sports channels without paying subscriptions. As security systems improved, piracy evolved into internet-based key sharing and eventually today’s IPTV streaming services.

In the UK, piracy became especially connected to premium live sport, particularly football coverage. Broadcasters and law enforcement agencies have spent years trying to combat illegal streaming operations, with raids, arrests, and server seizures continuing into 2026.

The topic remains controversial online, with many viewers arguing that rising subscription costs and fragmented sports rights have helped fuel demand for illegal services. Discussions on Reddit and other forums regularly debate whether modern piracy is driven more by convenience and pricing than technology itself.

What many younger viewers may not realise is that before IPTV, piracy often involved physical hardware, reprogrammed access cards, satellite signal hacks, and specialist receivers. Entire underground communities once existed around decoding systems used by Sky and other satellite broadcasters.

The full article explores how satellite TV piracy developed in the UK, the technology behind it, the legal crackdowns, and how the industry changed from hacked smart cards to modern illegal streaming networks.

Read the complete feature on The Sat and PC Guy.

Sky Secures Formula 1 Coverage Until 2034

 Formula 1 fans in the UK will continue watching races on Sky for many more years after a huge new broadcasting agreement was confirmed. The new deal reportedly keeps Formula 1 on Sky Sports until the end of the 2034 season, in a contract said to be worth around £1 billion.

The agreement is significant because it effectively blocks any immediate move towards a major streaming takeover from companies like Apple or Netflix, both of which have been linked with future Formula 1 rights in recent years. Instead, Formula 1 has once again backed traditional pay-TV broadcasting in one of its biggest markets.

Sky has been heavily involved with Formula 1 coverage since 2012, becoming the exclusive live broadcaster in the UK and Ireland from 2019 onwards. Under the new agreement, Sky will continue showing every practice session, qualifying session, sprint race, and Grand Prix live on satellite and streaming platforms.

The deal also means there is still no sign of the full F1 TV Pro service launching in the UK. Because Sky holds exclusive live rights, Formula 1 cannot offer its own complete direct-to-consumer streaming platform to British viewers. Fans will therefore still need either a Sky Sports subscription or access through NOW to watch races live legally in the UK.

Despite the continued pay-TV focus, some free-to-air coverage remains protected. The British Grand Prix will still be shown live on terrestrial television, while highlights packages will continue for other races. Currently this coverage is provided by Channel 4.

Formula 1’s popularity has grown dramatically in recent years, helped by younger audiences, new fans, and the success of the “Drive to Survive” era. Sky says viewing figures have continued to rise strongly, making Formula 1 one of the most valuable sports rights packages in UK television.

For satellite TV viewers in Spain and elsewhere across Europe, the announcement also confirms that Sky satellite broadcasts of Formula 1 are not disappearing anytime soon. While streaming services continue to grow, premium live sport remains one of the key reasons many households still rely on satellite television.

For the full breakdown of the new Formula 1 and Sky Sports agreement, read the original article on The Sat and PC Guy.

CNN Encryption Change Hits UK Satellite Viewers

 For years, CNN International was one of the few major international news channels still available free-to-air on UK satellite systems. That has now changed, with the channel becoming encrypted on the UK’s SES Astra satellite position at 28.2° East.

The move means that many viewers using generic satellite receivers or free-to-air setups can no longer access CNN in the same way as before. While users of Sky equipment may see little difference, the change has caused confusion among satellite enthusiasts and viewers outside the UK who relied on the previously unencrypted feed.

The switch from free-to-air to free-to-view appears to be linked to licensing and commercial control. Reports suggest the biggest impact will be on hotels, commercial venues, and hospitality systems that previously used the open satellite signal without formal commercial agreements.

For viewers in Spain and mainland Europe, there is still some good news. CNN International continues to broadcast free-to-air via Astra 1 at 19.2° East, meaning satellite users with multi-LNB systems or motorised dishes may still be able to receive the channel without subscription equipment.

The change also highlights a wider trend in satellite broadcasting. More channels are moving towards encrypted or controlled-access distribution, even when the content itself is still technically “free”. Similar transitions have already happened with various HD services over the past decade as broadcasters tighten rights management and commercial licensing.

If you want the full technical details, frequency information, and explanation of what this means for UK TV viewers in Spain, read the full article on The Sat and PC Guy.

BBC Axes Football Focus After 52 Years on TV

The Football Focus will come to an end after an incredible 52-year run, marking the close of one of the most recognisable and long-standing football shows on UK television. First broadcast in 1974 on BBC One, the Saturday lunchtime programme has been a staple of the football weekend for generations, offering interviews, features, and previews of upcoming matches. However, the BBC has confirmed the show will be taken off air at the end of the current season as viewing habits continue to evolve.

The decision reflects a wider shift in how audiences now consume football content, with more fans turning to digital platforms, clips, and on-demand viewing rather than traditional TV formats. The BBC is expected to replace the programme with new formats and expanded online content, signalling a move away from legacy broadcast shows toward a more modern, digital-first approach. While the end of Football Focus will be seen by many as the end of an era, it also highlights how rapidly sports broadcasting is changing in the streaming age.

Further information

Can You Watch UK TV Abroad on Freely Pleo Without VPN

 The Netgem Pleio is designed to deliver UK TV channels over the internet through the Freely platform, combining live and on-demand content from major broadcasters like BBC, ITV, Channel 4, and Channel 5. However, because everything is streamed via broadband rather than satellite or aerial, your location plays a crucial role in what you can actually watch. When used outside the UK — for example in Spain — many channels and services are likely to be restricted due to geo-blocking rules tied to broadcasting rights.

Please Subscribe to the Youtube Channel. Its free to subscribe, helps the channel grow, and make sure you never miss a new video release.:

As a result, using the device abroad without a VPN or Smart DNS solution will usually lead to limited or blocked access, particularly for live TV and catch-up services. While the box itself will still function, the viewing experience will not match what users get inside the UK. This highlights a key limitation of broadband-delivered TV platforms like Freely — unlike satellite reception, access is controlled by your internet location, meaning additional setup is often required to restore full UK viewing when overseas.

Further information

Amazon Confirms Vega OS for Future Fire TV Sticks

Amazon has now confirmed that all future Fire TV Stick devices will run its new Vega OS, marking a major shift away from the long-standing Android-based Fire OS platform. The change, first seen on newer devices like the Fire TV Stick 4K Select and the latest HD model, signals a clear direction for Amazon’s streaming hardware going forward. According to developer documentation, “all future Fire TV Sticks will run on Vega,” confirming that this is not a one-off experiment but a permanent transition.

Please Subscribe to the Youtube Channel. Its free to subscribe, helps the channel grow, and make sure you never miss a new video release.:

While Vega OS is designed to be faster, lighter, and more efficient, it also introduces significant limitations. Most notably, it removes support for sideloading apps and installing software outside the official Amazon Appstore, giving Amazon far greater control over the platform. This shift is widely seen as an effort to improve security and reduce piracy, but it also reduces flexibility for users who previously relied on third-party apps. As a result, future Fire TV devices will offer a more controlled — but less open — streaming experience.

Further information 

New Freesat Recorder Launches as 4K Boxes Disappear

A major shift is underway in the Freesat market as the long-standing range of 4K recording boxes has now been discontinued, leaving a noticeable gap for viewers wanting a modern satellite recorder. For several years, these devices — originally launched in 2020 — were the only real Freesat PVR option available, but stock has recently disappeared from retailers, confirming the end of that generation.

Please Subscribe to the Youtube Channel. Its free to subscribe, helps the channel grow, and make sure you never miss a new video release.:

Stepping in to replace them is a brand new recorder from Manhattan TV — the S4-R Freesat 4K TV Recorder. This new device will bring updated hardware, modern streaming integration, and familiar recording features such as multi-channel recording and pause/rewind live TV. Its launch marks a new phase for Freesat, combining traditional satellite recording with on-demand apps, and reassuring users that recording via satellite TV is not disappearing — but evolving with newer technology.

Further information

New Fire TV Stick HD Brings Speed but Less Freedom as Sideloading goes

 The new Amazon Fire TV Stick HD (2026) will bring noticeable improvements in speed, design, and usability, making it a more responsive and compact streaming device than previous versions. With around a 30% performance boost, faster app loading, Wi-Fi 6 support, and a slimmer, more portable design, it will appeal to users who simply want a smoother, plug-and-play streaming experience.

However, this increased performance will come at the cost of flexibility. The new device will run Amazon’s Vega OS instead of the older Android-based system, meaning users will likely lose the ability to sideload apps or install software outside the official app ecosystem. This shift reflects a wider move by Amazon to lock down the platform — improving security and control, but reducing the freedom that made earlier Fire TV devices so popular, particularly among more advanced users.

Further information