If you have a Freeview or Sky TV box, you've lost access to three music channels. Parent company That's TV has put an end to That's 80s, That's Oldies, and That's Melody, with broadcasts terminating in the middle of the night.
For Freeview users, this is particularly bad news. That's Oldies was sitting on channel 75, and it was the last dedicated music station running full-time on the platform. Sky has now removed all three channels — previously found on channels 359 to 361 — from its TV Guide.
This comes as the company behind these channels, That's Media Limited, has been hit by reports of major cost-cutting and failure to file their accounts on time. As a result, Companies House could start strike-off proceedings against the company for failing to submit before the deadline.
This is actually the second time since 2024 that the firm has been late with its financial paperwork. Back in December, two of its Freeview channels — That's TV (UK) and That's TV 2 — went off air due to what's believed to have been money-related distribution problems.
You can now find other music channel options from Vevo, NOW Music and Xite on platforms like Pluto TV, Rakuten TV, and Samsung TV Plus | EVERYONE TV PRESS OFFICE You can still get your music fix, though.
That's TV is streaming four music channels through Rakuten TV and Pluto TV, and That's 80s is among them. If you've got an LG telly, you can find the music channels through LG Channels too.
There's also some music content left on the remaining That's TV channels. That's TV 2 has cleared out its daytime schedule to show classic music videos from the 60s and 70s.
That's TV 3 is still running some music programming during quieter hours. There were rumours it would close this weekend as well, but it's stayed on air.
The decline of traditional music telly has been happening for a while now. MTV's linear music channels have disappeared, and Channel 4 shut down both 4Music and The Box back in 2024.
With That's TV's music stations gone, Sky viewers are left with just the NOW Music channels as the only full-time music option on the platform.
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS
Although streaming services have picked up the slack. You can now find music channels from Vevo, NOW Music and Xite on platforms like Pluto TV, Rakuten TV and Samsung TV Plus.
The cancellation of these TV channels also arrives just as a potential Freeview switch-off looms. According to a new study, dubbed Stream On: The Future of UK TV, every UK household could have access to internet-delivered TV by the mid-2030s, allowing traditional terrestrial distribution to be retired.
For many, a broadband connection provides a fast, stable, and always-on link to the internet. It supports bandwidth-heavy activities like streaming movies, gaming, video conferencing, and cloud storage without lag or dropouts. | GETTY IMAGES – PICTURE POSED BY MODELS A vast number of us have already made the switch, with 94% of UK adults having access to internet at home and 92% of us relying on one video-on-demand (VOD) service, like Netflix, Prime Video, BBC iPlayer, ITVX, and others.
While streaming can be more convenient — and unlocks Sky Glass-like features like the ability to pause or rewind live television – there are downsides. Aside from the BBC licence fee, there’s no cost when tuning into linear TV channels using an aerial.
Likewise, if you have a satellite dish, Freesat lets you watch dozens of free-to-air channels at no cost. However, this isn't the case for broadband-based television, which requires an internet connection in your home.
For instance, you'll need a minimum connection speed of 10Mbps for Freely, with most broadband companies charging at least £10–£15 a month for the sort of speed you'll need to watch. Millions of UK viewers could be "forced into paying for broadband" as a result.
Downing Street is reviewing the future of television distribution in the UK. For free-to-air broadcasts to continue beyond the current 2034 deadline, the UK Government will need to extend multiplex licences to allow television channels to leverage the Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) platform
| SKY TV PRESS OFFICEFreeview channels have also joined the campaign to stop free-to-air television in the UK from being scrapped.
The Great Network, which includes popular channels like Great! TV, Great! Christmas, and Great! Movies, to name just a few, has thrown its weight behind the Broadcast 2040+ coalition. The latter brings together over 35 organisations, including the Digital Poverty Alliance and Rural Services Network, and aims to safeguard traditional linear television and radio broadcasts for the long-term.
Downing Street is reviewing the future of television distribution in the UK. For free-to-air broadcasts to continue beyond the current 2034 deadline, the UK Government will need to extend multiplex licences to allow television channels to leverage the Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) platform, more commonly known as Freeview, to broadcast over the airwaves nationwide.
There's no set deadline for the latest UK Government review, but the last time the DTT licences were up for renewal, the consultation ended in February 2021 ahead of an early 2022 deadline. In other words — we're unlikely to find out the outcome for a few years.
More From GB News