Freeview users lose a channel but now it’s back (Image: GREAT REAL)
users were enjoying a free channel boost until recently. A new service from the team at with it showing unscripted content such as Heathrow: Britain’s Busiest Airport, Paddington Station 24/7, land Medics and Coast Guard Alaska throughout the day and night.
This documentary-style content is always popular but, without warning, the channel suddenly shutdown in August after only a few months on the air.
Now GREAT! Real is making a surprise return but those with Sky and Freeview devices will be left disappointed as it’s not coming back to these platforms. Instead, it’s been confirmed that GREAT! Real will now broadcast via Netgem TV as part of an exclusive deal.
For those unaware, Netgem TV is beamed into homes via certain UK Internet Service Providers such as TalkTalk, Community Fibre and Connect Fibre. The ISPs all offer award-winning Netgem-powered set-top boxes which offer instant access to a swathe of on-demand and live TV.
Anyone who subscribes to those broadband plans should find they can access Netgem and that means there’s also access to this new channel which is totally free to watch.
It’s a surprise move from GREAT! with all of their other channels such as GREAT! Movies, GREAT! Action, GREAT! Christmas and GREAT! Romance still available on Freeview and Sky.
Speaking about the boost, Sylvain Thevenot, Managing Director at Netgem UK, said: “I’m very proud to launch this FAST exclusivity with Narrative Entertainment. It’s a significant step in our journey to bring high-quality free content to our Telecom Operator partners and to British audiences. This partnership highlights our strategy to deliver premium content through our growing high-quality FAST Streaming channels for operators adopting Netgem TV.”
And Nicholas Foundoukis, FAST Account Manager at Narrative Entertainment, added: “At Narrative Entertainment, we’re excited to launch GREAT! real first on Netgem TV, offering viewers an authentic glimpse into the lives of real-life heroes. We are thrilled that Netgem TV carries all of our seven GREAT! and POP-branded FAST channels which have 1.5 million monthly active users in the UK.”
Although the loss of the channel is bad for Freeview fans there is better news on the horizon. The team at UKTV has recently confirmed that they will soon be launching the .
This service offers viewers high-quality natural science programming including blue chip series like Planet Earth and the UKTV Original, David Attenborough’s Natural Curiosities.
Other shows available include Great British Landmark Fixers, Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown, Titanic: Stories From The Deep and Expedition with Steve Backshall.