May 14
19
truTV was once promoted as a new free-to-air entertainment channel coming to UK viewers through Freeview, Freesat and YouView. At the time, the channel was expected to bring a mix of unscripted entertainment, reality shows, factual programmes and popular US series to British television screens.
However, that information is now out of date. truTV UK is no longer available as a Freeview or Freesat channel. The UK version of truTV launched in 2014, was later acquired by Sony Pictures Television, and was eventually replaced by True Crime in 2019.
If you have found an old channel listing, an old blog post or an outdated TV guide mentioning truTV, you will not be able to bring the channel back by retuning your TV. The channel itself has closed in the UK, so a missing truTV listing is not normally a fault with your aerial, satellite dish, Freeview box or Freesat receiver.
Was truTV Ever on Freeview and Freesat?
Yes. truTV did launch in the UK as a free-to-air channel. It was originally brought to the UK market by Turner Broadcasting, the company associated with channels such as Cartoon Network, TCM and the US version of truTV.
The channel was aimed at viewers who enjoyed reality entertainment, factual shows, larger-than-life characters and unscripted programmes. Early reports mentioned shows such as Container Wars, Fear Factor, South Beach Tow and other reality-based programming.
At launch, truTV was part of a growing group of extra free-to-air channels available outside the main BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5 services. It appeared during a period when Freeview and Freesat were expanding their entertainment line-ups and giving viewers more choice without a monthly subscription.
Why Is truTV No Longer Available?
truTV UK went through several changes after its original launch. Sony Pictures Television acquired the UK truTV channel in 2017, adding it to a wider portfolio of entertainment, film, children’s and factual channels.
After that, the channel’s availability changed, and truTV was eventually replaced by True Crime in 2019. That means truTV is no longer a current UK Freeview or Freesat channel.
Because the channel has closed, viewers should not expect to find it in the current Freeview or Freesat TV guide. If an old website still says truTV is launching soon, that information belongs to the 2014 launch period and should no longer be treated as current advice.
Can You Retune to Get truTV Back?
No. Retuning your TV will not bring back truTV because the channel is no longer broadcasting as a UK Freeview or Freesat service.
A retune can help when a channel has moved number, when your TV guide is incomplete, or when your television has stored old channel information. However, it cannot restore a channel that has closed or been replaced by another service.
You may still want to retune your Freeview TV if:
- Your channel list looks incomplete.
- Some channels are missing that should be available in your area.
- Your TV has not been retuned for a long time.
- You have recently had aerial work carried out.
- You are seeing duplicate channels in the 800s.
- Your TV is picking up the wrong regional news service.
Freeview provides retune guidance here: https://www.freeview.co.uk/help/retune.
How to Check Which Freeview Channels You Should Receive
Freeview channel availability varies by location. Your postcode, local transmitter, aerial direction and signal strength all affect which channels you can receive.
The best way to check current Freeview channel availability is to use the official Freeview Channel Checker. This shows which channels are predicted for your address and can help you work out whether a missing channel is due to local coverage, transmitter changes or a reception fault.
You can check your predicted Freeview channels here: https://www.freeview.co.uk/freeview-channel-checker.
If truTV does not appear in the checker, that is expected. The channel is no longer part of the current UK Freeview line-up.
How to Update Channels on Freesat
Freesat boxes and Freesat TVs can also update their channel lists. This is useful when new services launch, when channels move, or when your receiver needs to refresh its guide.
On many Freesat devices, you can update the channel list by going into Settings, selecting Freesat Channels, choosing Channel Scan, and then starting a new scan.
Freesat provides guidance on updating channels here: https://www.freesat.co.uk/news/tech/update-channels.
As with Freeview, scanning for channels will not restore truTV. It may help with current Freesat channels, but it cannot recover a channel that has closed in the UK.
Why Old Channel News Can Cause Confusion
Freeview and Freesat channel line-ups change regularly. Channels launch, close, rebrand, move numbers, change owners, switch multiplexes or move to streaming-only platforms.
This means old TV news articles can quickly become misleading. A post from 2014 announcing a new channel may still be indexed by Google years later, even though the channel is no longer available.
Common reasons old channel information becomes outdated include:
- The channel has closed.
- The channel has been rebranded.
- The channel has moved to a different number.
- The channel has changed platform.
- The channel is only available in certain regions.
- The channel is now available through streaming rather than aerial or satellite TV.
- The channel owner has changed its portfolio.
If you are looking for a specific channel, always check a current Freeview or Freesat guide rather than relying on older launch announcements.
Does a Missing Channel Mean Your Aerial Is Faulty?
Not always. If a channel has closed, rebranded or moved platform, your aerial is not the problem.
However, if you are missing several current Freeview channels that should be available in your area, then your aerial system may need checking. Aerial faults can cause missing channels, weak reception, pixelation, sound dropouts or “no signal” messages.
Common aerial problems include:
- Aerials moving out of alignment after wind or bad weather.
- Old or damaged coaxial cable.
- Water entering outdoor connections.
- Loose wall plates or aerial plugs.
- Faulty signal boosters or amplifiers.
- Your TV tuning into a weaker transmitter.
- Poor signal distribution to multiple rooms.
If you are only missing truTV, there is no fault to repair because the channel is no longer available. If you are missing several current channels, visit our aerial repairs page for help.
Does a Missing Freesat Channel Mean Your Dish Is Faulty?
Again, not always. If a channel has closed, changed name or left Freesat, your satellite dish will not be able to receive it.
Dish faults usually affect several channels or cause wider problems such as no signal, picture breakup, failed recordings or missing groups of channels. These issues can be caused by dish misalignment, damaged cable, a faulty LNB or problems with the Freesat box itself.
If your Freesat box is missing multiple channels that should be available, a channel scan may help. If that does not work, the satellite dish and cabling may need testing.
You can read more about Freesat services here: https://wefitaerials.com/freesat/.
What Replaced truTV?
In the UK, truTV was replaced by True Crime in 2019. The wider true crime and factual TV market has continued to change since then, with crime documentaries and factual entertainment now spread across broadcast channels, streaming apps and online platforms.
If you enjoyed truTV-style programmes, you may still find similar content through:
- Freeview entertainment and factual channels.
- Freesat factual and documentary channels.
- Streaming apps on smart TVs.
- BBC iPlayer, ITVX, Channel 4 and 5.
- Free ad-supported streaming channels.
- Subscription services such as Netflix, Prime Video and Disney+.
The exact availability changes over time, so it is worth checking your current TV guide or using your smart TV search function if you are looking for a particular programme.
Freeview, Freesat and Streaming Are All Changing
Television has changed a lot since truTV first launched in the UK. Free-to-air viewing is no longer limited to the traditional aerial or satellite channel guide.
Many homes now use a mixture of Freeview, Freesat, smart TV apps, streaming services and internet-based live TV. This gives viewers more choice, but it also means channels can appear, disappear or move between platforms more often than they used to.
For viewers, the important thing is to know whether a problem is caused by a channel change or by a reception fault. If a channel has closed, no amount of retuning or equipment repair will bring it back. If a current channel should be available but is missing, then the aerial, dish, cable or receiver may need attention.
When Should You Retune Freeview?
It is worth retuning Freeview from time to time, especially when channels are added, removed or moved. Many modern TVs prompt you to retune automatically when changes are detected.
You should consider a retune if:
- Your TV tells you new services are available.
- Your channel list looks out of date.
- You have lost channels after transmitter work has finished.
- You have moved house.
- You have had a new aerial installed.
- Your TV is showing duplicate or incorrect regional channels.
Before retuning, check whether there is a known transmitter fault or planned engineering work. If channels are temporarily off air and you retune during the outage, your TV may remove those services from the guide until you scan again.
When Should You Call an Aerial or Satellite Engineer?
You do not need an engineer just because truTV is no longer listed. That is a channel closure, not a reception fault.
You may need professional help if you are missing current Freeview or Freesat channels that should be available at your address. An engineer can test the signal, check the aerial or dish, inspect cabling and confirm whether your setup is working correctly.
You should consider calling an engineer if:
- Your TV regularly shows “no signal”.
- You are missing several current channels.
- Your picture breaks up during wind or rain.
- Your aerial or dish looks damaged or has moved.
- One room receives channels but another does not.
- Your Freesat box fails to find channels after a scan.
- You need extra TV points or help with a multi-room setup.
WeFitAerials can help with TV aerial installation, aerial repairs, Freeview reception problems and Freesat installation.
Final Thoughts
The original truTV launch was an interesting moment for Freeview and Freesat viewers, but it is now part of UK TV history. truTV is no longer a current UK Freeview or Freesat channel, so viewers should not expect to find it by retuning.
If you are missing truTV, there is nothing wrong with your aerial or satellite dish. If you are missing several current channels, then the issue may be with your TV setup, aerial system, satellite dish, cabling or local signal conditions.
To check what Freeview channels you should receive, use the Freeview Channel Checker here: https://www.freeview.co.uk/freeview-channel-checker.
For Freeview retune guidance, visit: https://www.freeview.co.uk/help/retune.
For Freesat channel scan guidance, visit: https://www.freesat.co.uk/news/tech/update-channels.
If your TV signal is unreliable, WeFitAerials can help. Visit https://wefitaerials.com/aerial-repairs/ or contact us here: https://wefitaerials.com/contact-us/.
