Skip to content

Sign Up or Sign In!

Freeview

About Freeview

To all Freeview viewers - due to the changes made to the multiplexes in order to get full coverage for the channel in Wales its possible you may have to re-tune your box in order to continue getting Challenge.

Apologies, this consequence of the infrastructure change was not made clear to the channel by the platform before.

Re-Tuning Your Freeview Box

New channels are launched on Freeview from time to time along with other updates to the service. So it pays to retune your digital box every couple of months to make sure you are up to date. Some digital boxes automatically retune but most have to be retuned manually. The process is straightforward but varies slightly between boxes from different manufacturers.

Step 1
Press menu on your box's remote control.

Step 2
Now select set-up, installation, update or similar option. If you're asked for a password the default code is 1234 or 0000.

Step 3
Now select the 'first time installation' option (sometimes called 'factory reset', 'full retune' or 'default settings'). Press 'OK' if your equipment asks if it is ok to delete existing channels. This will clear your existing settings and find the new channel line-up. If prompted then save the channels that are found.

You may find that channel favourites and scheduled recordings are also deleted so check and reset these.

If you are still encountering problems check the instructions for your product on the TV retune website:
http://www.tvretune.co.uk/productmanuals/
or go to: http://www.freeview.co.uk/Help/Retuning-Your-Equipment/How-to-retune-your-equipment

Comments

  1. Hello,
    what has happened to Challenge on Freeview in the west midlands? My seven year old is distraught!
    I live near Bridgnorth in Shropshire and Challenge went off the air two days ago.
    Retuning the DVB channels has not found it.
    What's the issue please?

    simon yeomans 21 September 2011

  2. I also live in the West Midlands, in Coventry. Challenge has disappeared from my screen even though I've re-tuned and the TV finds Freeview channel 46 there is no broadcast. What's happened?

    Paul Harper 22 September 2011

  3. Retuned today Thursday. The Challenge Channel 46 has been replaced by The Jewellery Channel. What is going on? It would be nice if Challenge personnel would read these posts and offer a solution!

    Alan
    Hemel Hempstead

    Alan Williams 22 September 2011

  4. I have 3 set-top boxes and have tried re-tuning all of them. Challenge cannot be picked up on any of them at channel 46. I don't want the Welsh to lose out but whatever you did, can you please undo it?

    David
    Belfast
    N.Ireland

    David Cranch 22 September 2011

  5. Have also lost Challenge despite re-tuning.What else can I do?
    Very disappointed!

    Michael
    N Ireland

    Challen Michael 23 September 2011

  6. Sad to have now lost Challenge in Yarmouth, after months of perfect reception. Was loving The Crystal Maze :(

    Jacob Sutton 23 September 2011

  7. Challenge! As you can see, your channel has been lost all over the UK. Are you happy with that or are you prepared to do something about it? Don't tell us to re-tune our settop box as that doesn't do anything.

    David Cranch 24 September 2011

  8. It's amazing that no one has yet explained precisely what has happened. So here goes - on Tuesday, in a move known for a couple of weeks beforehand to those who follow such matters but not communicated to the wider public, Challenge was moved from one Multiplex (a group of channels occupying a UHF frequency) to another. It now shares space with Sky News, Pick TV and Dave amongst others. If you can receive these channels, you should be able to receive Challenge. However you will need to tell your box or TV to look for Channel 46 in a new location. A first time installation or 'full rescan replace channels' is required - do not use the 'add channels' option.

    Paul Thompson 25 September 2011

  9. You need to do a full reset aka factory reset or first time installation. When you get a prompt that says "do you want to delete all your channels?" Press OK. You will have to reload any recordings you had programmed.

    Add channels is not sufficient.

    Tom Martin 25 September 2011

  10. All I get after retuning is a text only scrren on my tv or a text screen saying channel back after 6am tomorrow but ive had this for 3 days. Rgeardless of any retune!

    Graham Ackrill 25 September 2011

  11. On channel 795 that is!

    Graham Ackrill 25 September 2011

  12. Graham, that is being generated from where the old Challenge used to be. Challenge is now to be found on the same multiplex as Sky News and Dave, and if you get these on a retune you should get Challenge as well. The existing information telling your box or set where to look for the channel needs to be replaced. What you might try is to do a retune (not an 'add channels' retune but a 'full rescan replace exisitng channels' or 'first time installation') with the aerial lead pulled out. That should leave you with nothing. Then put the aerial lead back in and repeat the process. Obviously if you are not getting those other channels this will not work, but if you are, Challenge should be there as well.

    Paul Thompson 25 September 2011

  13. Note to Jacob - I see you are in Gt Yarmouth - I assume you did perform the retune on 17th August when some services moved in your area (mine too!)? If so, and you are able to receive Sky News and Dave, a further retune should get Challenge back.

    You must be right on the edge of the service area for this low power pre-DSO signal, but the good news is that after your second DSO retune on 23rd Nov, you ought to get everything much more easily as the power will be much much higher. There will also be a local relay for GY, but this will not carry all sevices (including Challenge) so stay watching the Tacolneston transmitter if you can.

    Paul Thompson 25 September 2011

  14. Hi Paul, thanks for the response. We did our rescan on all STB's on 17th August but have been unable to pick up the mux Challenge has now moved to ever since, so it is clear why it's not returning.

    If we can't ever get Challenge back then I'll get over it (in time, naturally...), it's just slightly irritating as they, along with PickTV, Dave and Sky News, were channels we watched frequently, with no problem beforehand, and others nearby can still receive them. Typical ;)

    They would have done well to just communicate it all a bit better I think, particularly the Challenge shift.

    Jacob Sutton 25 September 2011

  15. Hi,
    Further to my previous post, I have done a complete re-installation and yes I can get Dave etc. but still no Challenge.

    Paul Harper
    Coventry

    Paul Harper 26 September 2011

  16. Quite apart from the complete lack of communication last week, this change has been very poorly executed from a technical point of view, and those responsible should be ashamed of themselves. If you can get Sky News and Dave, these are carried on the same signal as Challenge and so it must be there. If you still have Pick TV+1 on Channel 44, this is the channel which was removed to make way for Challenge. If it is still there, have a look at that and see if that is where Challenge now is. If it is not there, and there is nothing up in the 800s, I really don't know what else to suggest.

    Paul Thompson 26 September 2011

  17. The same problem as above but have just carried out a full search and Challenge has come back to C 46.

    Can now watch Crystal Maze again. How about Treasure Hunt being shown? Never seems to be repeated.

    Roy Whitehead 27 September 2011

  18. If I select channel 46 I do get the blue box stating 'Challenge' but there's no actual programme just a blank screen.

    Paul Harper
    Coventry

    Paul Harper 28 September 2011

  19. As with others, my mother has also lost "Challenge" (Freeview 46) in the last week or so.

    If I retune, I do get it back but, as soon as the TV is switched off, it is gone again! (Channel 795 shows the information, but with a blank screen.)Dave, etc., are fine - just as they always were.

    I certainly have no intention of re-tuning EVERY DAY just to get one station....!!

    Tony Stanley 29 September 2011

  20. What on earth has happened to Challenge this morning? I was pleasantly surprised to find Challenge here in the West Midlands after digital retune and as a poor sleeper found it great company during the night.
    But today there is a new 'choice' on screen.....programmes or ads and whatever I do to follow the on screen instructions to get back to TV programmes it only lasts a few seconds before going back to the choice screen again. Every other channel OK.
    Anyone else got this problem?......or found a way round it? there's no direct e mail or phone to contact challenge so can't ask them!

    Pete Simpkin 04 October 2011

  21. when i put challenge on it comes on games why is that

    paul preston 04 October 2011

  22. it appears that Horsham West Sussex is no longer able to tune in to challenge on freeview, but never mind, at least wales are able to get it now!

    I wonder if Churchill the insurance company (challenges sponsor) are aware of this problem...?
    ahhh no!

    David Martin 07 October 2011

  23. I know a young man with learning difficulty living in horsham, he has enjoyed watching Challenge since he discovered it himself approximately 4 months ago; he does not understand why he can no longer get it.Could somebody from Challenge please explain so he can understand...?
    Matt really loves Challenge, and has been feeling very low since it has gone.

    please advise...

    David Martin 07 October 2011

  24. I know a young man who has learning difficulty, living in horsham. He is very confused and disapointed that he can no longer receive challenge. (his favourite tv channel)

    Could somebody from Challenge please explain in a way he can understand, why he could have it at one time, but can not get it now...

    Matt has been feeling noticably low since he lost the channel, and would like some answers...

    please advise.
    DM

    David Martin 07 October 2011

  25. I know a young man who has learning difficulty, living in horsham. He is very confused and disapointed that he can no longer receive challenge. (his favourite tv channel)

    Could somebody from Challenge please explain in a way he can understand, why he could have it at one time, but can not get it now...

    Matt has been feeling noticably low since he lost the channel, and would like some answers...

    please advise.
    DM

    David Martin 07 October 2011

  26. I know a young man who has learning difficulty, living in horsham. He is very confused and disapointed that he can no longer receive challenge. (his favourite tv channel)

    Could somebody from Challenge please explain in a way he can understand, why he could have it at one time, but can not get it now...

    Matt has been feeling noticably low since he lost the channel, and would like some answers...

    please advise.
    DM

    David Martin 07 October 2011

  27. I know a young man who has learning difficulty, living in horsham. He is very confused and disapointed that he can no longer receive challenge. (his favourite tv channel)

    Could somebody from Challenge please explain in a way he can understand, why he could have it at one time, but can not get it now...

    Matt has been feeling noticably low since he lost the channel, and would like some answers...

    please advise.

    David Martin 07 October 2011

  28. So WHEN will Challenge return to Freeview??? STOP telling us to retune the damn box as it isnt working for anyone is it??? The channel has just disappeared so what are you going to do about it? I have distraught kids missing out on TNA Wrestling due to your incompetence.

    FIX THE DAMN SIGNAL IMMEDIATELY AND STOP TELLING PEOPLE TO RETUNE - IT IS NOT OUR PROBLEM BUT YOURS!!!!!!!!!!

    N Chris 07 October 2011

  29. So when is Challenge going to be available again in Scunthorpe? It disappeared at the end of September never to be seen again despite many retunings and resettings of the two digiboxes!! Seem to have lost Dave too as well as a few others. They were all there one night and the next day - gone!!! Freeview is a pathetic pile of crap, I just wish Challenge was on Freesat cos I am not paying those con artists at Sky. Freeview = Massive Fail!!!!

    N Chris 07 October 2011

  30. I know a young man in Horsham,he was very happy when he discovered Challenge, on his tv in his care home approximately 4 months ago. Matt is very upset and disapointed that he cannot get it now. his tv has been retuned to no avail... :(

    David Martin 09 October 2011

  31. is it right that west sussex will not get it back until spring 2012?

    David Martin 12 October 2011

  32. I also have lost Challenge and I live in Dorset. All I get is Channel 795 telling me it will resume transmission at 6am tomorrow. This has been on screen since September and no matter how many times I re-tune my digital tv I still get the same. I have a very ill daughter with cancer and Challenge has been brilliant for her late at night/early hours in morning as she does not sleep because of pain. Please can you sort this as I am at my wits end. Many thanks

    Clare Moss 15 October 2011

  33. Dear Sirs,
    Would you PLEASE ask the female continuity announcer
    at the end of editions of "Catchphrase" NOT to butt
    into the end of the programme while Roy Walker is
    STILL speaking? We then miss out on the joke Roy Walker is giving us at the end of at least the edition which ends at 7.27 p.m.
    It happened at 7.27 p.m. this evening 19th October
    and it happened last week as well.
    It is annoying and very ignorant of her not to wait
    until Roy Walker has signed off at the end of the
    programme. It is annoying enough when the end credits are squeezed up at the end of programmes as well,to give graphic promotions to forthcoming programmes.
    Thank you.
    Mike. Horsington. Wells.

    MICHAEL HORSINGTON 19 October 2011

  34. to everybody reading this thread.
    I am sorry for the multiple posts,
    this was due to an error on the 'challenge tv' server.it kept telling me that my post had failed...
    looks like they have sorted out that problem now.

    is challenge tv not able to challenge freeview to push for a solution to the main problem, which appears to be in various areas throughout the uk.

    Dave Martin.

    David Martin 21 October 2011

  35. East Yorkshire seems to have lost Challenge as well.

    Have retuned several times but still no channel 46.

    Doesanyone from Challenge everv respond to these posts?

    Phil Smith 11 November 2011

Please sign up or sign in to leave your comments.