TLC Becoming Free-to-Air Channel on UK Freeview, Freely from 2026

Starting January 2026, the TLC channel in the UK will transition from a subscription-only service on Sky and Virgin Media to a free-to-air channel available on Freeview and Freely, as part of Warner Bros. Discovery's strategy to revamp TLC into an entertainment hub featuring popular US sitcoms like The Big Bang Theory and British reality shows including a revamped Mock the Week. While TLC expands, Warner Bros. Discovery will discontinue HGTV as a standalone channel in the UK, moving its home and garden programming to Really, and will focus on six main free channels including Quest and Food Network. In France, Free has launched a new Free TV app replacing Oqee, offering nearly 200 free channels and over 25,000 on-demand programs accessible across a wide range of devices to all users, not just Free customers, marking a significant move to democratize television consumption. Free TV also offers a premium tier called Free TV+ providing over 300 channels and extensive replay content for a low monthly fee after the first year. These developments illustrate a broader trend toward expanding free and accessible television content through both traditional broadcast and streaming platforms, enhancing viewer choice and convenience in the UK and France.