Mastodon UK Cable TV Changes

Tuesday, 13 January 2026

Old Services Closed To Allow New Regional EPG Variations - EPG Flags Updated:
 
Channel 137 - ID 1965  Quest HD  - Placeholder - End of Service
- Moved to placeholder channel 2002.
- Moved from SID 1908 to placeholder SID 1951 on traditional cable networks.
 
Channel 165 - ID 1711  TLC HD  - Placeholder - End of Service
- Moved to placeholder channel 2000.
- Moved from SID 1906 to placeholder SID 1950 on traditional cable networks.
- M/Player/Mixit and More (deprecated) subscription codes added.
- Reality Tier Personal Pick subscription pack code removed. 
 
Channel 168 - ID 1907  Quest Red  - Placeholder - End of Service
- Moved to placeholder channel 2004.
- Moved from SID 1008 to placeholder SID 1050 on traditional cable networks.
 
Channel 320 - ID 1475  5 USA +1  - Placeholder - End of Service
- Moved to placeholder channel 2010.
- Moved from SID 203 to placeholder SID 251 on traditional cable networks.
 
Channel 337 - ID 1709  Quest +1  - Placeholder - End of Service
- Moved to placeholder channel 2006.
- Moved from SID 315 to placeholder SID 350 on traditional cable networks.
 
Channel 365 - ID 1044  TLC+1  - Placeholder - End of Service
- Moved to placeholder channel 2008.
- Moved from SID 919 to placeholder SID 961 on traditional cable networks.
- M/Player/Mixit and More (deprecated) subscription codes added.
- Reality Tier Personal Pick subscription pack code removed. 
 
For all of these closed services:
- Placeholder and end of service flags added to preserve any recordings. 
- SDT Root flags updated to show these services are running and not encrypted - encryption removed.
- The Services have been hidden from the EPG. - Hide2 flag removed.
The end of service / placeholder flag combination preserves any recordings for a short period following a channel closure.
The removal of the hide2 flag leaves flag1 in place, technically hiding these placeholder services from the EPG, although 4 digit dummy EPG numbers are not visible on customer devices. 
The subscription pack changes to TLC HD and TLC +1 make these channels available to all Virgin TV customers. Stream/Flex packages, however, were still listed as Essential Entertainment at the time of the analysis. Both of these channels are now free to view on all platforms.
 
 
Change of Channel Numbers: 
 
Channel 165 - ID   246  Really
- EPG channel moved from 128.
 
Channel 168 - ID 1729  Food Network
- EPG channel moved from 190.
 
 
New Service - Launch: 
Channel 365 - ID 2374  Really +1
- Moved from pre-launch placeholder channel 662 to channel 365.
This channel has launched as a new service and is now visible on the EPG.
 
 
Launch of New replacement EPG Regional Variations With Change of Channel Numbers:  
 
Channel 113 - ID 2375  TLC HD  -  VM England & Northern Ireland
- Moved from pre-launch placeholder channel 650.
- M/Player/Mixit and More (deprecated) subscription codes added.
- Reality Tier Personal Pick subscription pack code removed. 
 
Channel 128 - ID 2376  TLC HD  -  VM Scotland & Wales
- Moved from pre-launch placeholder channel 651.
- M/Player/Mixit and More (deprecated) subscription codes added.
- Reality Tier Personal Pick subscription pack code removed. 
 
Channel 128 - ID 2377  Quest HD  -  VM England & Northern Ireland
- Moved from pre-launch placeholder channel 652.
 
Channel 137 - ID 2378  Quest HD  -  VM Scotland & Wales
- Moved from pre-launch placeholder channel 653.
 
Channel 137 - ID 2379  Quest Red  -  VM England & Northern Ireland
- Moved from pre-launch placeholder channel 654.
 
Channel 146 - ID 2380  Quest Red  -  VM Scotland & Wales
- Moved from pre-launch placeholder channel 655.
 
Channel 313 - ID 2383  TLC+1  -  VM England & Northern Ireland
- Moved from pre-launch placeholder channel 658.
- M/Player/Mixit and More (deprecated) subscription codes added.
- Reality Tier Personal Pick subscription pack code removed. 
 
Channel 320 - ID 2385  5 USA +1  -  VM Except Scotland
- Moved from pre-launch placeholder channel 660.
 
Channel 328 - ID 2384  TLC+1  -  VM Scotland & Wales
- Moved from pre-launch placeholder channel 659.
- M/Player/Mixit and More (deprecated) subscription codes added.
- Reality Tier Personal Pick subscription pack code removed. 
 
Channel 328 - ID 2381  Quest +1  -  VM England & Northern Ireland
- Moved from pre-launch placeholder channel 656.
 
Channel 337 - ID 2382  Quest +1  -  VM Scotland & Wales
- Moved from pre-launch placeholder channel 657.
 
Channel 362 - ID 2386  5 USA +1  -  VM Scotland
- Moved from pre-launch placeholder channel 661.
 
All of the above: 
- Added to remaining networks within the appropriate nations.
- Scottish and Welsh versions of the WBD channels have been removed from the NIT of internal networks used for pre-launch testing.
- Scottish versions of 5 USA +1 have been removed from the NIT of internal networks used for pre-launch testing.
  
These channels have launched as replacement services / EPG regional variations.
The subscription pack changes to TLC HD and TLC +1 make these channels available to all Virgin TV customers. Stream/Flex packages, however, were still listed as Essential Entertainment at the time of the analysis. Both of these channels are now free to view on all platforms.