Oct 21
7
If you noticed a small black and white square in the corner of Channel 5, you were not the only one. Viewers across the UK spotted the strange mark on screen and many wondered whether it was a TV fault, a Freeview problem, an aerial issue or something being broadcast by Channel 5 itself.
The good news is that the square was not caused by your TV aerial, your television or your Freeview box. It was linked to a broadcast issue affecting Channel 5 after a major technical incident at the Red Bee Media broadcast centre in September 2021.
In simple terms, Channel 5 was running in disaster recovery mode. The black and white square was a visible sign that the channel was being broadcast through backup systems rather than its normal playout setup.
Why Did the Black and White Square Appear on Channel 5?
The black and white square appeared after a serious technical incident affected the systems used to broadcast several UK television channels.
On 25 September 2021, the fire suppression system at Red Bee Media’s broadcast centre was triggered. Red Bee provides important broadcast and playout services for a number of broadcasters. The incident caused disruption to several channels, including Channel 4 and Channel 5.
After the incident, some services had to be moved onto backup systems. This is often called disaster recovery. When Channel 5 was being broadcast in this backup mode, the small black and white square appeared on screen.
It was not something viewers could remove by changing settings, retuning or replacing an aerial. It was part of the broadcast output being sent to viewers.
Was It a Problem With Freeview?
No, the black and white square itself was not a Freeview fault. Viewers may have seen it while watching Channel 5 on Freeview, but the issue was not being caused by the Freeview platform or by local TV transmitters.
The square was visible because Channel 5’s broadcast feed was affected before it reached viewers. That means the mark could appear regardless of whether you were watching through Freeview, cable or another TV platform.
If your other Freeview channels were working correctly and only Channel 5 had the square, your aerial system was not the cause.
If you are having general Freeview reception issues, such as missing channels, picture breakup or a “no signal” message, that is a separate problem. You can read more about Freeview and aerial services here: Freeview aerial services.
Was It a TV Aerial Fault?
No, the Channel 5 black and white square was not caused by a faulty aerial. A damaged or poorly aligned aerial can cause reception problems, but it cannot place a clean broadcast graphic into the corner of one specific channel.
Typical aerial faults look different. You may see pixelation, frozen pictures, sound dropouts, missing channels or a complete loss of signal. These problems are usually caused by weak signal, damaged cables, water ingress, poor connections or an aerial that has moved out of alignment.
The Channel 5 square was different because it was part of the channel feed being broadcast at the time. In that situation, viewers could not fix it from home.
If you are still seeing signal problems across multiple channels, you may need an inspection or TV aerial repair.
Could Retuning Remove the Square?
No, retuning would not have removed the black and white square from Channel 5 while it was being broadcast by the channel itself.
A retune only helps your TV find and store available channels. It can be useful if channels have moved, if your TV guide is incomplete, or if your television has stored weaker signals from the wrong transmitter.
However, a retune cannot remove something that is already embedded in the broadcast picture. If Channel 5 was sending out the square, every viewer receiving that version of the channel would see it.
Retuning is still useful in the right circumstances, but it should not be treated as a fix for every TV issue. If you retune while there is a temporary broadcast or transmitter problem, you can sometimes make your channel list worse by deleting channels that would have returned on their own.
What Is Disaster Recovery in TV Broadcasting?
Disaster recovery is a backup plan used when normal broadcast systems are unavailable. Broadcasters need ways to keep channels on air during technical failures, power problems, fires, equipment faults or other major incidents.
When a channel moves into disaster recovery mode, it may be broadcast from a backup site or through alternative equipment. This allows programmes to continue, but some normal features may be missing or reduced.
Depending on the incident, viewers may notice:
- Missing subtitles.
- Missing audio description.
- Temporary picture or sound issues.
- Different continuity or presentation.
- Problems with programme information.
- On-screen markers or technical symbols.
In the case of Channel 5, the black and white square was linked to this temporary backup broadcast arrangement.
Was Channel 5 the Only Channel Affected?
No, Channel 5 was not the only broadcaster affected by the Red Bee incident. Channel 4 and some related services were also affected, and Channel 4 experienced more serious disruption for a longer period.
Some viewers noticed missing subtitles, unavailable audio description, programme interruptions or services temporarily going off air. The incident showed how important broadcast backup systems are, especially for people who rely on subtitles or audio description to watch television.
Although the black and white square became closely associated with Channel 5, the wider issue was part of a much larger broadcast disruption.
Why Was the Square So Noticeable?
The square stood out because it appeared in the corner of the picture during programmes. Viewers are used to seeing channel logos, but this looked different. It did not behave like a normal Channel 5 logo and it appeared unexpectedly.
Because it was visible during programmes, many people assumed something was wrong with their own television. Others thought it might be an old-style cue mark, an advert signal or a fault with their Freeview reception.
In reality, it was linked to Channel 5’s temporary backup broadcast setup. It was not a consumer setting, a hidden TV feature or something caused by home equipment.
What Should You Do if You See a Strange Square on Your TV Today?
If you see a black, white or grey square on your TV today, the cause depends on where and when it appears.
If it only appears on one channel and other viewers are reporting the same issue, it may be a broadcaster problem. In that case, there is usually nothing wrong with your aerial or TV.
If it appears on every channel, in menus, on apps or through a connected device, it may be caused by your TV, set-top box, HDMI device, streaming stick or accessibility settings.
Try these checks first:
- Change channel to see whether the square appears everywhere.
- Open your TV menu to see whether the square appears over the menu.
- Restart the TV and any connected boxes.
- Check whether the issue appears on HDMI devices as well as live TV.
- Check another TV in the property if you have one.
- Look online to see whether other viewers are reporting the same channel issue.
If the square only appears on one broadcast channel, it is unlikely to be an aerial fault. If you also have missing channels, weak signal or picture breakup, then your aerial system may still need checking.
How to Tell the Difference Between a Broadcast Fault and an Aerial Fault
A broadcast fault usually affects the programme feed itself. This means the same problem may be visible to many viewers at the same time. It may affect one channel, one group of channels or a broadcaster’s services across several platforms.
An aerial fault usually affects your own property. You may lose several channels, see pixelation, experience sound dropouts or find that one TV works while another does not.
Here is a simple way to think about it:
- If one channel has a clean symbol or graphic on screen, it is probably part of the broadcast.
- If several channels break up or disappear, it may be a reception problem.
- If every TV in the property is affected, the aerial, amplifier or distribution system may be at fault.
- If only one TV is affected, check the fly lead, wall socket, TV settings or connected equipment.
If you are unsure, a professional aerial engineer can test the signal and confirm whether the problem is coming from your aerial system or elsewhere.
When Should You Call an Aerial Engineer?
You do not need an aerial engineer for a broadcaster-side issue such as the Channel 5 black and white square. However, you may need help if you have ongoing Freeview reception problems that affect your own home.
It is worth booking an engineer if:
- Your TV regularly says “no signal”.
- You are missing channels that should be available in your area.
- Your picture breaks up in bad weather.
- Your aerial has moved, fallen or looks damaged.
- You have old or water-damaged aerial cable.
- Several TVs in the house are affected.
- You have recently moved into a property with no working aerial point.
WeFitAerials can help with TV aerial installation, aerial repairs, Freeview signal checks and additional TV points.
Can a Faulty Aerial Cause Marks on the Screen?
A faulty aerial can cause picture breakup, blocking, freezing or missing channels. Digital TV faults often look like pixelated squares, broken images or sudden drops in sound.
However, a faulty aerial does not normally create a neat black and white symbol in one corner of the screen. That type of mark is more likely to come from the channel feed, a TV menu, an app overlay or a connected device.
If the image is breaking into blocks across the whole screen, that may be a signal issue. If there is one fixed square in the corner on a single channel, it is more likely to be part of the broadcast.
Should You Replace Your Aerial Because of the Channel 5 Square?
No, the Channel 5 black and white square was not a reason to replace your aerial. Replacing the aerial would not have removed it because the mark was not caused by local reception.
You should only consider replacing an aerial if there are genuine signs of signal trouble. These include frequent picture breakup, missing channels, damaged equipment, old cabling, poor signal levels or an aerial that is no longer suitable for your location.
If your Freeview reception is otherwise stable, there is no need to replace anything because of a broadcaster-side symbol.
Final Thoughts
The black and white square on Channel 5 was linked to a temporary broadcast issue after the Red Bee Media incident in September 2021. It showed that Channel 5 was operating through backup systems, often described as disaster recovery mode.
It was not caused by your aerial, your TV, your Freeview box or your home wiring. Retuning would not have removed it while it was being broadcast by Channel 5.
If you see a similar issue today, first check whether it appears on one channel or across everything you watch. A single-channel symbol is usually a broadcaster issue, while missing channels, pixelation and “no signal” messages may point to an aerial or reception problem.
If you are having Freeview problems that are not linked to a known broadcaster issue, WeFitAerials can help. Visit our aerial repairs page, learn more about Freeview services, or contact us to arrange help from a local engineer.
You can also read Ofcom’s review of the Red Bee Media broadcast centre incident here: Ofcom Red Bee Media incident review.
