Channel Closures - Housekeeping Changes:

ID   258  MTV 90s    -   Placeholder - End of Service

ID   259  Club MTV    -   Placeholder - End of Service

ID 1404  MTV Live HD    -   Placeholder - End of Service

ID 1733  MTV MUSIC   -   Placeholder - End of Service

ID 1895  POP    -   Placeholder - End of Service

ID 2090  MTV 80s    -   Placeholder - End of Service

ID 2367  High Street TV Shop    -   Placeholder - End of Service

- The PMTs and video streams / slates have now been removed.

- The SDT root flags have been updated to indicate that encryption has been removed.
Removal of encryption is normal following elementary stream removal. Encryption had been ineffective after the placeholder SIDs had been assigned, the video slates had been orphaned on the old SIDs. 

 

 

New Services - Pre-launch Configurations - Housekeeping:

ID 2374  Really +1  -  Internal Networks Only

ID 2375  TLC HD  -  Internal Networks Only

ID 2376  TLC HD  -  Internal Networks Only

ID 2377  Quest HD  -  Internal Networks Only

ID 2378  Quest HD  -  Internal Networks Only

ID 2379  Quest Red  -  Internal Networks Only

ID 2380  Quest Red  -  Internal Networks Only

ID 2381  Quest +1  -  Internal Networks Only

ID 2382  Quest +1  -  Internal Networks Only

ID 2383  TLC+1  -  Internal Networks Only

ID 2384  TLC+1  -  Internal Networks Only

ID 2385  5 USA +1  -  Internal Networks Only

ID 2386  5 USA +1  -  Internal Networks Only

- PMTs and elementary streams (video, audio etc) have now been added.

- The SDT root flags have been updated to indicate that encryption has been added. 

 

 

FAST Service NIT Removal: 

Channel 447  -  ID 2363  Rakuten TV Action  -  FAST Channel Portal - SDT Only

- Removed from the NIT of all networks.

This service has been removed from the NIT but remains in the SDT.

 

 

New FAST Services - Pre-launch Configurations:

 

ID 2387  Rakuten TV Comedy  -  FAST Channel Portal - Internal Networks Only

- Short EPG name: RTV Comedy

- Added to TSID 8 SID 842 on traditional cable networks.

- Pre-launch EPG slot allocation - channel 463. Channel numbers are subject to change.

- Marked as the Movies genre.

 

ID 2388  Rakuten TV Drama  -  FAST Channel Portal - Internal Networks Only

- Short EPG name: RTV Drama

- Added to TSID 8 SID 843 on traditional cable networks.

- Pre-launch EPG slot allocation - channel 462. Channel numbers are subject to change.

- Marked as the Movies genre.

ID 2389  Rakuten TV Sci-Fi  -  FAST Channel Portal - Internal Networks Only

- Short EPG name: RTV Sci-Fi

- Added to TSID 8 SID 844 on traditional cable networks.

- Pre-launch EPG slot allocation - channel 464. Channel numbers are subject to change.

- Marked as the Movies genre.

 

Pre-launch configurations common to all three of the above services:

- All hidden from the EPG. - Hide1 flag applied.

- All marked as HD.

- SDT root flags show that these services are not running and not encrypted.

- Subscription codes had not been added at the time of the analysis.

- Each service has been added to 5 internal networks often used for pre-launch configuration.
   - Code Download Test (Portsmouth)
   - NGRHEE Bromley
   - NGRHEE Knowsley   
   - TTA Bromley DMC (Bromley RHE)
   - TTA Knowsley DMC (Hayes_RHE)

Rakuten TV channels are usually added to TV360 / Stream devices only, the Hide1 flag hides these channels from the EPG of V6 & legacy TiVo devices.

As Rakuten TV channels aren't added to the V6, subscription codes aren't added to the SI data. A note will be added later to confirm the subscription packs for Horizon based devices. 

Channel Closures - EPG Flags Updated:

 

Channel 280 - ID 1733  MTV MUSIC                   - Placeholder - End of Service

- Moved to internal channel 1795. 

- Moved from SID 406 to placeholder SID 456 on traditional cable networks. 

 

Channel 281 - ID 1404  MTV Live HD                 - Placeholder - End of Service

- Moved to internal channel 1796. 

- Moved from SID 1604 to placeholder SID 1654 on traditional cable networks. 

 

Channel 282 - ID   259  Club MTV                      - Placeholder - End of Service

- Moved to internal channel 1797. 

- Moved from SID 404 to placeholder SID 454 on traditional cable networks. 

 

Channel 283 - ID   258  MTV 90s                        - Placeholder - End of Service

- Moved to internal channel 1799. 

- Moved from SID 402 to placeholder SID 452 on traditional cable networks. 

 

Channel 284 - ID 2090  MTV 80s                        - Placeholder - End of Service

- Moved to internal channel 1798. 

- Moved from SID 407 to placeholder SID 457 on traditional cable networks. 

 

Channel 736 - ID 1895  POP                               - Placeholder - End of Service

- Moved to internal channel 1793. 

- Moved from SID 910 to placeholder SID 960 on traditional cable networks. 

 

Channel 759 - ID 2367  High Street TV Shop    - Placeholder - End of Service

- Moved to internal channel 1794. 

- Moved from SID 1601 to placeholder SID 1651 on traditional cable networks. 

 

For all of the above:

- Hidden from the EPG - Hide2 flag removed. Except High Street TV Shop, which had the Hide1 flag added.

- SDT root flags updated to indicate that encryption has been removed.

The closure slates have been hidden from the EPG after 7 days (or 6 days for POP). (The hide2 flags have been removed, leaving hide1 flags in place. Hide2 is a legacy format used to reverse hide1 status.)

The channels have been moved to internal placeholder channel numbers and to placeholder SID numbers on traditional cable networks. This frees up the original slots for re-use. 

At the time of the analysis, the PMTs and video streams had not been removed and remained on the original SIDs. 

 

 

New Services - Pre-launch Configurations:

 

ID 2374  Really +1  -  Internal Networks Only

- Pre-launch EPG slot allocation - moved from dummy channel 2012 to channel 662.

- Subscription pack code added for an unmarketed package.

ID 2375  TLC HD  -  Internal Networks Only

- Pre-launch EPG slot allocation - moved from dummy channel 2000 to channel 650. 

 

ID 2376  TLC HD  -  Internal Networks Only

- Pre-launch EPG slot allocation - moved from dummy channel 2001 to channel 651.

ID 2377  Quest HD  -  Internal Networks Only

- Pre-launch EPG slot allocation - moved from dummy channel 2002 to channel 652.

ID 2378  Quest HD  -  Internal Networks Only

- Pre-launch EPG slot allocation - moved from dummy channel 2003 to channel 653.

ID 2379  Quest Red  -  Internal Networks Only

- Pre-launch EPG slot allocation - moved from dummy channel 2004 to channel 654.

ID 2380  Quest Red  -  Internal Networks Only

- Pre-launch EPG slot allocation - moved from dummy channel 2005 to channel 655.

ID 2381  Quest +1  -  Internal Networks Only

- Pre-launch EPG slot allocation - moved from dummy channel 2006 to channel 656.

 

ID 2382  Quest +1  -  Internal Networks Only

- Pre-launch EPG slot allocation - moved from dummy channel 2007 to channel 657.

 

ID 2383  TLC+1  -  Internal Networks Only

- Pre-launch EPG slot allocation - moved from dummy channel 2008 to channel 658.

 

ID 2384  TLC+1  -  Internal Networks Only

- Pre-launch EPG slot allocation - moved from dummy channel 2009 to channel 659. 

 

ID 2385  5 USA +1  -  Internal Networks Only

- Pre-launch EPG slot allocation - moved from dummy channel 2010 to channel 660.

 

ID 2386  5 USA +1  -  Internal Networks Only

- Pre-launch EPG slot allocation - moved from dummy channel 2011 to channel 661.

 

Pre-launch channel numbers are subject to change. 

 

For all services: 

- Now (technically) visible on the EPG - hide1 flag removed. 

- Added to 5 internal networks often used for pre-launch configuration.
   - Code Download Test (Portsmouth)
   - NGRHEE Bromley

   - NGRHEE Knowsley   

   - TTA Bromley DMC (Bromley RHE)

   - TTA Knowsley DMC (Hayes_RHE)

Note that although technically visible on the EPG, these channels are not visible on customer devices as the services have not yet been added to customer facing NITs. 

At the time of the analysis, PMTs and elementary streams (video, audio etc) do not appear to have been added. 

 

 

Further notes (from the original post): 

TLC channels are expected to migrate to M/Player/Mixit & the basic, inclusive channels, pack when WBD adds TLC to Freeview.

 

Reality +1 has 3 versions of the subs pack code record, some conflicting. (2 records include a subscription pack code for an unmarketed package, the other does not). 

ID 2378 Quest HD, ID 2381 Quest +1 & ID 2383 TLC +1 each have 2 versions of the subs pack record, both records carrying the same information.

 

Details of the above extra versions will be added to the SI Errors page when fully analysed. 

 

As IDs 2375 to 2386 duplicate existing services on Virgin TV, it is possible that these are just being used as placeholder service names.

 

 

Update:

The SI errors have now been corrected. 

On December 12th 2025 the redundant extra subs code records for ID 2378 Quest HD, ID 2381 Quest +1 were removed.

On the overnight scan (January 7th 2026), the remaining extra subs codes records have been removed for ID 2383 TLC +1 and the 2 extra records for ID 2374 Reality +1, where the records with codes for the extra unmarketed package have now been removed. Which is of little importance as the unmarketed package code has now been added to the third subscription code record.

 

Error records such as these are difficult to track as the main part of the database simply ignores uses the first record listed in the SI data and ignores the rest, which is possibly how Virgin TV boxes handle these. (Extra codes don't seem to cause issues with loading the channels).

Service Removal: 

TSID      3  -  SID    322  -  ID 2148  ITVBe +1  -  Placeholder - End of Service.

This service has been removed after protecting recordings for 212 days.

 

 

Temporary Rebrands:
- 3 channels reverting to their usual names following seasonal rebrands.

Movies 24 reverted to its usual name following a seasonal rebrand as Christmas 24.

Movies 24+ reverted to its usual name following a seasonal rebrand as Christmas 24+.

GREAT! Romance reverted to its usual name following a seasonal rebrand as GREAT! christmas.   

Temporary Rebrand:

- 3 movie channels with promotional rebrands.

- 1 movie channel reverting to its usual name following a promotional rebrand

- 1 sports channel reverting to its usual name following a promotional rebrand (all resolutions/versions) as Sky Sports F1 returns following its darts coverage.

Channel Closures - EPG Flags Updated:

Channel 280 - ID 1733  MTV MUSIC                   - Placeholder - End of Service

Channel 281 - ID 1404  MTV Live HD                 - Placeholder - End of Service

Channel 282 - ID   259  Club MTV                      - Placeholder - End of Service

Channel 283 - ID   258  MTV 90s                        - Placeholder - End of Service

Channel 284 - ID 2090  MTV 80s                        - Placeholder - End of Service

Channel 736 - ID 1895  POP                               - Placeholder - End of Service

Channel 759 - ID 2367  High Street TV Shop    - Placeholder - End of Service

- End of Service and Placeholder flags which were removed yesterday have now been restored.
The end of service / placeholder flag combination preserves any recordings for a short period following a channel closure.

 

 

Temporary Rebrands:

- 1 movie channel reverting to its usual name following a promotional rebrand (unscheduled).

End of a Free To View period:

Channel 175  -  ID 2033 Virgin TV Ultra HD  -  Not on Original Tivo.

Channel 999  -  ID 1989 Virgin TV Ultra HD  -  Not on Original Tivo.

- Temporary subscription pack codes for M/Player/Mixit on traditional cable networks and for the basic, inclusive channels, pack for Stream devices have now been removed.

These channels have now reverted to their normal subscription packs following a free to view period. 

 

 

Channel Closures - EPG Flags Updated:

Channel 280 - ID 1733  MTV MUSIC  

Channel 281 - ID 1404  MTV Live HD  

Channel 282 - ID   259  Club MTV 

Channel 283 - ID   258  MTV 90s 

Channel 284 - ID 2090  MTV 80s   

Channel 736 - ID 1895  POP   

Channel 759 - ID 2367  High Street TV Shop   

- End of Service and Placeholder flags have been removed.
In an unusual move, Virgin TV has removed the placeholder and end of service flags. This means that any recordings will no longer be viewable when the services are hidden from the EPG. Probably to be expected for High Street TV Shop, not so much for the rest.

 

 

Temporary Rebrands:

- 1 movie channel with a promotional rebrand (unscheduled).

- 1 movie channel reverting to its usual name following a promotional rebrand.

Channel Closures - EPG Flags Updated:

Channel 736 - ID 1895  POP                              - Placeholder - End of Service

- The video stream is now carrying a closure announcement slate. 
- End of Service and Placeholder flags have been added.
The end of service / placeholder flag combination preserves any recordings for a short period following a channel closure.

 

 

Temporary Rebrands:

- 1 movie channel reverting to its usual name following a promotional rebrand.