New channel numbering for terrestrial television 19 November – Is your TV ready for HD broadcasts?

On Tuesday 19 November, channel numbering will change in the terrestrial television network as Finland prepares for the transition to high-definition (HD) broadcasts. HD channels will be moved to the top of the channel list to slots from 1 to 20. Standard-definition (SD) channels will be moved to slots from 21 to 39. The technical numbering change will be implemented by Digita Oy. The changes will be carried out in the terrestrial TV network on 19 November between 10.00 and 15.00. During these hours, short interruptions may occur in TV broadcasts across the country.

The changes affect all viewers who watch TV via the terrestrial (antenna) network. The cable TV network underwent a similar change in 2021.

Reinstall channels on 19 November, if necessary, and check if your TV is HD ready

The majority of people in Finland already have HD compatible devices that will display HD broadcasts in channel slots 1–20 automatically or after performing a channel search. A small minority of viewers are still using televisions or set-top boxes that cannot receive HD broadcasts. In these devices, broadcasts are available after a channel search only in channel slots 21–39 as SD broadcasts.

If no content is available on the usual channels after the numbering change on 19 November, reinstall the channels by performing a channel search. Most televisions will run the search automatically, but some televisions and set-top boxes require you to start the search from a menu or to manually search for channels. Some receivers may also require restoring factory settings before the channel search is performed. Restoring factory settings is often a good idea anyway to ensure that no outdated information remains stored on the device.

Checking HD compatibility is easy

All standard-definition broadcasts will end during 2025. The Finnish Broadcasting Company Yle will end its SD broadcasts on 31 March 2025 and other free-to-air channels on 30 June 2025. After this, only HD channels will be available.

If you wish to continue watching television after the transition, make sure that your device can receive HD broadcasts. After the channel numbering change, if content is available only on channels 21–39 but not on channels 1–20, viewers living in housing companies should check from their building manager that the building antenna system can receive HD broadcasts. If the system in your building is HD ready but HD channels are still not available, your television receiver is probably not HD compatible.

You can replace your old device with a new HD-compatible television or purchase an HD digital set-top box. “We have published a comprehensive package of information on the HD transition on the HDTV Guide website at hdtvopas.fi. It also includes instructions on how to check whether your TV is HD ready,” says Project Manager Artturi Kavaja.

Help family and friends prepare for HD transition

“We have launched an information campaign about the transition to HD with television industry operators and non-governmental organisations to reach all TV owners in Finland. Television is an important source of information for many, and we want to ensure that everyone can exercise their right to information,” says Head of Unit Eliisa Reenpää. “It is also important to help family members and friends make sure that their televisions are HD ready so that they too can continue to watch programmes,” says Reenpää.

Be green and recycle old devices

We also remind everyone to recycle their old televisions properly. An old but fully functional television can be donated or sold to a new user. If a television no longer works, you can recycle it free of charge – televisions do not belong in mixed waste. Up to 99 per cent of the materials contained in a television can be recycled.

For more information on the HD transition and instructions on how to check your television’s HD compatibility, how to perform a channel search and how to recycle a television, please visit hdtvopas.fi.