Freeview faces backlash from parents after CBeebies is moved next to porn channels in TV guide
Users stumbled upon networks including Babestation after an update in the service
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Parents have expressed outrage after they found the BBC's children's TV channel CBeebies has been moved on their TV guides next to a host of adult channels, following an update to the Freeview service.
The change saw some users scrolling through networks including sex phone-in show Babestation and dating channel Gay Rabbit in front of their families before reaching their selection.
Viewers complained after the shake-up in the planner which was ironically designed to stop children unwittingly coming across the X-rated content by accident.
One mother, Danielle Bazouki, 28, said: “I was disgusted. I couldn’t believe it.
“I went to put CBeebies on for my four-year-old son on channel 121 as usual and there was a message saying that it had moved to 202.”
“I was horrified my son may see something inappropriate,” she told The Sun.
Others hit out on Twitter over the update in the Freeview service which left parents embarrassed in front of their children.
RJ Barker wrote: “Ooh, freeview has updated on the box so now you have to scroll past all the adult channels to get to Cbeebies. Odd decision.”
Another mother said on Twitter: “Is it just me wondering why a teenage boy on work experience has been allowed to update the Freeview channel numbers?
“CBeebies is now hidden among filth!” Another said: “I noticed this too. Pathetic.”
It came after the service changed its electronic programme guide on Wednesday to make room for additional channels.
CBeebies was moved to 201 to 299 while the adult channels, which were located below 200, were shifted to 670 to 699.
The shake-up was designed to increase the capacity for channels and to lower the chances children will stumble across inappropriate content.
But older televisions which had not been re-tuned recently still showed the X-rated listings close to the children's channels on the electronic guide.
A spokesperson for Freeview admitted that the planner on some sets showed the adult stations on offer near CBeebies but added that they were no longer broadcast there.
He said: “On some TVs that haven’t been retuned they may still appear at the old channel numbers. Retuning will restore the correct channel line-up.”
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments