The Strand in London with Union flags and a red double-decker bus
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United Kingdom · 218 channels

UK TV channels:
how to watch them live

BBC, CBeebies, ITV, Channel 4, 5, Sky, GB News and TNT Sports: the official apps, the TV licence, and what works outside the UK.

Photo: Pexels
Channel by channel

UK TV channels live online: one by one

Most UK channels stream live on their own free apps, but only inside the UK. The news channels are the exception.

A couple on a sofa in front of a red TV screenUKBBC OneFree with a UK TV licenceBlocked abroadA TV studio with cameras in front of a green screenUKBBC NewsFree with a UK TV licencePartly abroadA family on the sofa watching TV togetherUKITV1Free in the UK (with adverts)Blocked abroadA father and two daughters with popcorn watching TV at nightUKChannel 4Free in the UK + IrelandPartly abroadThe Strand in London with Union flags and a red double-decker busUKChannel 5Free in the UK (with adverts)Blocked abroadA studio microphone in front of a broadcast boothUKSky NewsFree live streamWorks abroadA packed football stadium under floodlights at nightUKSky Sports Main EventPaid: Sky or NOWPartly abroadA broadcast control room with many monitorsUKGB NewsFree live streamWorks abroadA glowing red On Air sign in a TV studioUKBBC TwoFree with a UK TV licenceBlocked abroadA concert crowd under bright stage lightsUKITV2Free in the UK (with adverts)Blocked abroadA football match at night under floodlightsUKTNT SportsPaid: HBO MaxBlocked abroadStage lights cutting through smokeUKCBeebiesFree with a UK TV licenceBlocked abroad
The full list

UK TV channels list: live at home and abroad

Where each channel streams live at home, and what happens abroad.

BBC OneGeneral · live on BBC iPlayer · Free with a UK TV licence Abroad: No: iPlayer works only in the UK
BBC NewsNews · live on BBC iPlayer · Free with a UK TV licence Abroad: Partly: an international channel
ITV1General · live on ITVX · Free in the UK (with adverts) Abroad: No, but Premium downloads work for 7 days
Channel 4General · live on Channel 4 streaming · Free in the UK + Ireland Abroad: UK and Ireland only
Channel 5General · live on 5 (app and website) · Free in the UK (with adverts) Abroad: No: UK only
Sky NewsNews · live on Sky News website · Free live stream Abroad: Yes: website and YouTube
Sky Sports Main EventSport · live on Sky Go / NOW · Paid: Sky or NOW Abroad: UK and Ireland (downloads abroad)
GB NewsNews · live on GB News website and app · Free live stream Abroad: Yes: website, app, YouTube
BBC TwoGeneral · live on BBC iPlayer · Free with a UK TV licence Abroad: No: iPlayer works only in the UK
ITV2Entertainment · live on ITVX · Free in the UK (with adverts) Abroad: No, but Premium downloads work for 7 days
TNT SportsSport · live on HBO Max · Paid: HBO Max Abroad: No: TNT Sports on HBO Max is UK only
CBeebiesKids · live on BBC iPlayer · Free with a UK TV licence Abroad: No: iPlayer works only in the UK
Every channel

All UK TV channels: 206 more

These UK channels do not have a full guide yet. Where we found one on Wikipedia, we list what it is, its official website and its article; the rest are names only for now. Where to watch them live, and whether that works abroad, is not checked yet. From Wikipedia, Wikidata and our own research (3 November 2026); we opened every official website the same day.

ITVFree-to-airOfficial site · Wikipedia
BBC FourFree-to-airOfficial site · Wikipedia
BBC ThreeFree-to-airOfficial site · Wikipedia
Sky SportsSportOfficial site · Wikipedia
S4CFree-to-airOfficial site · Wikipedia
BBC AlbaFree-to-airOfficial site · Wikipedia
BBC ParliamentParliamentOfficial site · Wikipedia
STVFree-to-airOfficial site · Wikipedia
E4Free-to-airOfficial site · Wikipedia
Iran InternationalOfficial site · Wikipedia
CNBC EuropeBusinessOfficial site · Wikipedia
Sky AtlanticPay TVOfficial site · Wikipedia
MUTVPay TVWikipedia
More4Free-to-airOfficial site · Wikipedia
Cartoon NetworkKidsOfficial site · Wikipedia
Comedy Central ExtraComedyOfficial site · Wikipedia
ITV3Free-to-airWikipedia
ITV4Free-to-airWikipedia
NickelodeonKidsOfficial site · Wikipedia
U&WWomen's interestOfficial site · Wikipedia
Islam ChannelReligionOfficial site · Wikipedia
U&GoldComedyOfficial site · Wikipedia
Sky Sports F1SportOfficial site · Wikipedia
U&YesterdayDocumentaryWikipedia
Discovery HistoryDocumentaryWikipedia
Sky ArtsFree-to-airOfficial site · Wikipedia
Sky MixFree-to-airWikipedia
Sky Sports NewsNewsOfficial site · Wikipedia
U&AlibiCrimeOfficial site · Wikipedia
Channel SFree-to-airOfficial site · Wikipedia
5USAFree-to-airOfficial site · Wikipedia
BBC One Northern IrelandFree-to-airWikipedia
BBC Two Northern IrelandFree-to-airWikipedia
Show 67 more channels
ChallengeClassic TVWikipedia
Nick Jr.KidsOfficial site · Wikipedia
Tiny PopKidsOfficial site · Wikipedia
U&DaveFree-to-airWikipedia
U&DramaDramaOfficial site · Wikipedia
4sevenFree-to-airWikipedia
5StarFree-to-airOfficial site · Wikipedia
BBC ScotlandLocalOfficial site · Wikipedia
Comedy CentralComedyOfficial site · Wikipedia
NicktoonsKidsOfficial site · Wikipedia
Sky DocumentariesDocumentaryWikipedia
5ActionFree-to-airOfficial site · Wikipedia
BBC One ScotlandFree-to-airOfficial site · Wikipedia
BBC One WalesFree-to-airOfficial site · Wikipedia
BBC Two WalesFree-to-airOfficial site · Wikipedia
CartoonitoKidsOfficial site · Wikipedia
ITV QuizFree-to-airWikipedia
QuestFree-to-airOfficial site · Wikipedia
Sky Box OfficeFilmsWikipedia
U&EdenFree-to-airWikipedia
DMAXFree-to-airOfficial site · Wikipedia
Disney Jr.KidsWikipedia
Hellenic TVOfficial site · Wikipedia
LegendFree-to-airOfficial site · Wikipedia
National Geographic UKPay TVOfficial site · Wikipedia
North Wales TVLocalWikipedia
TNT Sports 4SportWikipedia
ReallyWomen's interestWikipedia
Sky CrimeCrimeWikipedia
Together TVWomen's interestOfficial site · Wikipedia
Al MustakillahOfficial site · Wikipedia
Crime & InvestigationCrimeOfficial site · Wikipedia
Horse & Country TVOfficial site · Wikipedia
BlazeFree-to-airOfficial site · Wikipedia
Clubland TVMusicWikipedia
Ideal WorldShoppingOfficial site · Wikipedia
Leeds TVLocalWikipedia
Now 90s & 00sMusicOfficial site · Wikipedia
DiscoveryDocumentaryOfficial site · Wikipedia
Sky Sci-FiSci-fiWikipedia
Sky Sports RacingSportOfficial site · Wikipedia
TLCFree-to-airOfficial site · Wikipedia
E4 ExtraFree-to-airOfficial site · Wikipedia
Great! ActionFilmsOfficial site · Wikipedia
Great! TVWikipedia
Jewellery MakerShoppingOfficial site · Wikipedia
Local TV BirminghamLocalWikipedia
Local TV TeessideLocalWikipedia
Great! ChristmasFilmsOfficial site · Wikipedia
Liverpool TVLocalOfficial site · Wikipedia
Local TV LimitedLocalOfficial site · Wikipedia
PBS AmericaFree-to-airOfficial site · Wikipedia
QVCShoppingWikipedia
Quest RedFree-to-airWikipedia
TJCShoppingOfficial site · Wikipedia
Talking Pictures TVFilmsOfficial site · Wikipedia
That's ManchesterLocalOfficial site · Wikipedia
That's SolentLocalWikipedia
That's Swansea BayLocalWikipedia
That's Thames ValleyLocalWikipedia
Shoreditch TVLocalWikipedia
MTA4 AfricaReligionOfficial site · Wikipedia
York Student TelevisionWikipedia

More UK channels: names only

Channels we know of that have no details here yet: no website, nothing checked.

247Box TVFilms3ABN Praise Him Music NetworkMusic4MusicMusic5 SelectArise NewsNewsAyozat TVMusicbeIN Sports 1SportbeIN Sports 2SportBFBS Sport 1SportBFBS Sport 2SportBFBS Sport 3SportCBS DramaDramaCBS JusticeCBS RealityChelsea TVSportCMT MusicMusicCourt TVCraft ExtraCreate And CraftCruise1st TVNewsDiscovery PlusDocumentaryDiscovery TurboDocumentaryE!Edge SportSportGems TVGreat ClassicGreat Movies ActionFilmsGreat MysteryHigh Street TV 1High Street TV 2High Street TV 3Horror ChannelHorror XtraITVBeJML DirectLove WorldMTV 90sMusicMTV BaseMusicMTV DanceMusicMTV HitsMusicMTV MusicMusicNat Geo WildDocumentaryNick Jr. TooKidsNOW 70sMusicNOW 80sMusicNOW 90sMusicPremier Sports 1SportPremier Sports 2SportPremier Sports RugbySportQVC BeautyShoppingQVC ExtraShoppingQVC StyleShoppingRacing TVSportReality XtraSky AdventureSky Cinema ActionFilmsSky Cinema AnimationFilmsSky Cinema ComedyFilmsSky Cinema DramaFilmsSky Cinema FamilyFilms
Show 39 more names
Sky Cinema GreatsFilmsSky Cinema HitsFilmsSky Cinema PremiereFilmsSky Cinema Sci-Fi & HorrorFilmsSky Cinema SelectFilmsSky Cinema ThrillerFilmsSky ComedyFilmsSky HistoryDocumentarySky KidsKidsSky MaxFilmsSky NatureFilmsSky ShowcaseFilmsSky Sports ActionSportSky Sports Box OfficeSportSky Sports CricketSportSky Sports DartsSportSky Sports FootballSportSky Sports GolfSportSky Sports MixSportSky Sports Premier LeagueSportSky Sports TennisSportSky WitnessSon LifeMusicSony ActionFilmsTalk TVtalkSPORT TVSportTCMThat's 60sMusicThat's 80sMusicTNT Sports 1SportTNT Sports 2SportTNT Sports 3SportTNT Sports UltimateSportTrace UrbanMusicTravel ChannelTrue MoviesFilmsTV WarehouseTVC NewsNewsUTV
By type

UK channels by type

31 channelsUK sports channels24 channelsUK movie channels13 channelsUK kids channels19 channelsUK music channels
The basics

UK TV online: how it works

The big four free channels each have their own app: BBC iPlayer for the BBC (BBC One, BBC Two, BBC News, CBeebies), ITVX for ITV (ITV1, ITV2), Channel 4's streaming service and 5 for Channel 5. All of them stream the channel live as well as on demand.

To watch any channel live in the UK, on any device, you need a TV licence, which costs £180 a year from 1 April 2026. You also need one for BBC iPlayer, live or not.

Sky's channels, such as Sky Sports Main Event, need a Sky TV subscription with the Sky Go app, or a NOW membership.

TNT Sports, the former BT Sport, streams on HBO Max since 26 March 2026, at £30.99 a month; BT TV and EE TV customers keep the channels in their TV guide.

Abroad

How to watch UK TV abroad

BBC iPlayer, ITVX and 5 work only in the UK. Channel 4's streaming service works in the UK and the Republic of Ireland. On holiday abroad, the apps show a message instead of the picture, even if you pay for a TV licence.

The news channels are easier: Sky News and GB News stream live for free on their websites and on YouTube, and BBC News has an international version that TV providers carry around the world.

ITVX Premium subscribers can download shows before they travel and watch them abroad for up to 7 days.

Country by country

UK TV in the USA, Spain, Canada and more

UK TV in the USA, Spain, Canada, Germany and Australia

  • BBC News: BBC News (international channel)
  • ITV1: ITVX Premium downloads (not the channel itself)
  • Sky News: Sky News on YouTube, Sky News website and app
  • Sky Sports Main Event: Sky Go downloads (not the channel itself)
  • GB News: GB News website, app and YouTube
  • ITV2: ITVX Premium downloads (not the channel itself)

No official way that we found for BBC One, Channel 4, Channel 5, BBC Two, TNT Sports and CBeebies.

UK TV abroad: the full guide, channel by channel

British TV in the USA: what works, channel by channel

British TV in Canada: what works, channel by channel

Questions

UK TV: common questions

Can I watch BBC iPlayer abroad?

No. BBC iPlayer works only in the UK, also for TV licence payers on holiday. Parliament's petitions site says this is a decision for the BBC, not the government.

Which UK channels can I watch free from abroad?

Sky News and GB News stream live for free on their websites and YouTube channels. The big entertainment channels (BBC One, ITV1, Channel 4, Channel 5) do not stream outside the UK, apart from Channel 4 in Ireland.

How much is the TV licence?

£180 a year from 1 April 2026. You need it to watch or record live TV on any channel and device, and to use BBC iPlayer.

Can I watch UK TV on a Firestick?

Yes for ITV1, Channel 4, Channel 5, Sky Sports Main Event, GB News and ITV2: their official apps are on Amazon Fire TV. Each channel page says where the app works.

Which apps carry UK TV channels?

BBC iPlayer (UK only): BBC One, BBC News, BBC Two and CBeebies. BBC app (outside the UK, news articles and videos): BBC News. ITVX (UK only): ITV1 and ITV2. Channel 4 (UK and Republic of Ireland): Channel 4. 5 (UK only): Channel 5. Sky News (UK and abroad): Sky News. Sky Go (Sky customers, UK and Ireland): Sky Sports Main Event. NOW (UK; NOW Ireland in Ireland): Sky Sports Main Event. GB News (UK and abroad): GB News. HBO Max (UK, TNT Sports plan): TNT Sports. BT TV / EE TV (UK customers): TNT Sports.

Can I watch UK TV in the USA?

Partly. BBC News: BBC News (international channel). ITV1: ITVX Premium downloads (not the channel itself). Sky News: Sky News on YouTube, Sky News website and app. Sky Sports Main Event: Sky Go downloads (not the channel itself). GB News: GB News website, app and YouTube. ITV2: ITVX Premium downloads (not the channel itself). No official way that we found for BBC One, Channel 4, Channel 5, BBC Two, TNT Sports and CBeebies.

Sources

Where the facts come from

  1. GOV.UK: cost of the TV licence fee set for 2026/27
  2. GOV.UK: when you need a TV Licence
  3. UK Parliament petitions: 637777, BBC iPlayer for licence payers abroad (rejected 10 May 2023)
  4. Channel 4 help: watching outside the UK
  5. ITVX help: I'm abroad and can't watch shows
  6. 5: geo-restriction page

Last checked: 2 November 2026. Prices and rules change: the official pages always win.