Front Runner removed from Freeview

Free-to-air sports channel Front Runner TV has ceased broadcasting on Freeview.

The service, operated by London-based Information TV, was broadcast on Freeview and YouView channel 91 with coverage extending to around 3/4 of UK households. It was taken off air during the course of Friday 23rd June.

The first sign of an irregularity came when publicity for its forthcoming coverage of the Red Dragon Six Nation Darts omitted mention of Freeview. The suddenness of the closure is underlined by the fact that last weekend the channel had heavily promoted its Freeview coverage of England Open Darts and just a few days ago was prominently featured as an example of the increased choice on Freeview in platform operator Digital UK’s annual report.

On satellite, where distribution continues as normal, Front Runner had only recently split into two services, with Greyhound Racing moving to Front Runner 2 allowing the main channel to simulcast the same prime-time output on Sky and Freeview for the first time since its launch last year.

A spokesman for Front Runner said: “Front Runner is moving away from the Freeview platform in order to further develop other digital platforms. The channel is still available on Sky 469 and there’s also Front Runner 2 on Sky 468.”

YouView (BT TV, TalkTalk TV, Plusnet TV) viewers are also affected by this closure as users were accessing the channel through its Freeview signal.