The upgrade will require Freeview viewers to retune Freeview set-top boxes, Freeview+ digital TV recorders and integrated digital TVs, so they are able to continue receiving all channels and services available.
At the end of June, according to Ofcom data, there were 29.7 million Freeview-enabled TV sets in the UK.
Following the upgrade, the coverage of Five will increase, allowing about 500,000 Freeview homes to receive Five for the first time. Further changes scheduled for next year will allow for the launch of high-definition TV channels from the BBC and ITV.
However, some Freeview homes receiving their service from a relay transmitter rather than a base station, will lose ITV3 and ITV4. Discovery's new channel, Quest, will launch on channel 38 on Freeview and will be available to the majority of Freeview homes.
Some BBC Radio stations will be affected in the 5% of UK homes that have already gone through digital switchover. Listeners in the Border area, West Country and parts of Wales will lose these services until they retune their Freeview equipment.
Finally, the Community Channel will no longer be available on Freeview in areas that have already gone through switchover.
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