Trailblazer Television

Trailblazer Television is a British free-to-air television service owned by Go See TV. The service is available on the Freeview television platform and the Freely IPTV service in the UK.

Trailblazer Television uses hybrid broadcast–broadband channel (HbbTV) technology, to provide access to multiple themed FAST channels and on-demand content through an interactive application. Content available on the service is supplied by Hearst Networks^[1] and INSP.^[2]

Trailblazer Television broadcasts on Freeview channel 253^[3] and Freely channel 586.^[4]

Programming on Trailblazer Television is supplied by Hearst Networks and INSP. The service provides access to a selection of themed linear channels through its HbbTV application interface. These channels show a variety of documentaries, reality-tv series, movies and dramas.

The following linear channels are available on the Trailblazer Television:^[2]

• Western Bound (formerly Cowboy Way Channel) - shows modern and classic Western and Americana entertainment TV shows and films, a mix of scripted and non-scripted content.^[5] Programmes include:
  • Far Haven
  • Blue Ridge
  • Wild West Chronicles^[5]
• Deal Masters - features reality-tv shows that show people making deals.^[6] Programming includes:
  • Flipping Bangers
  • Hardcore Pawn
  • The Liquidator
  • Dickinson’s Real Deal
• Inside Crime - shows true crime documentaries from the UK.^[6] Programmes include:
  • Crimes That Shook Britain
  • Britain’s Darkest Taboos
  • What the Killer Did Next^[6]
• Mystery TV - shows paranormal and conspiracy documentaries. Programmes include:
  • Weird or What? with William Shatner
  • Top Secret UFO Projects Declassified
  • Strangest Things
• History Hunters - historical documentaries from British historians including Tony Robinson, Professor Alice Roberts, Al Murray, and Ross Kemp.^[6] Programming includes:
  • River Hunters
  • Digging for Britain
  • Shipwreck Treasure Hunter
  • Al Murray: Why Does Everyone Hate the English?
  • Walking Through History
• World War TV - documentaries about the World Wars.
  • WW2 Treasure Hunters, featuring Suggs and WW2 detectorist Stephen Taylor
  • Rise and Fall: The Turning Points of WW2
  • Architects of Darkness
  • Hitler’s Gold

In addition to its linear channel offerings, Trailblazer Television provides ad-supported video on demand access to selected programming through its interactive application. On-demand content is updated on a monthly and is accessed using the red button.

Content on Trailblazer is free to watch with adverts and requires no sign-in or subscriptions.^[7]

Trailblazer Television is delivered as a hybrid broadcast–broadband television service. This allows the service to combine traditional terrestrial broadcast distribution with broadband-delivered interactive features, providing channels and on-demand content.^[8][9][10] Interactive functionality is accessed using the red button, which opens the Trailblazer Television app menu and electronic programme guide.

Access to Trailblazer Television requires a Freeview-compatible television with HbbTV support that is connected to both a terrestrial aerial and the internet.^[11][12] It is available on regional Freeview and Freely within the United Kingdom. Viewers can confirm reception availability using the Freeview Channel Checker.

If the service is not available following launch or channel updates, a television retune may be required.

• Freeview: Channel 253 (United Kingdom)^[3]
• Freely: Channel 586 (United Kingdom)^[4]

Trailblazer Television operates using digital advertising technology designed to comply with industry standards for user privacy and consent. The service is certified under version 2.2 of the Interactive Advertising Bureau Transparency and Consent Framework (TCF), which provides a standardised approach for managing user consent in digital advertising environments.^[13]

When accessing internet-delivered content, viewers are presented with a consent notification that explains how data may be used to support advertising, measurement, and service functionality. Users are able to give, withhold, or manage consent preferences before personalised advertising is delivered. This consent-based approach is comparable to cookie consent mechanisms used on websites.^[14][15]

The implementation of TCF 2.2 enables Trailblazer to integrate with programmatic advertising partners while adhering to applicable data protection and privacy requirements across connected TV and hybrid broadcast platforms.

Trailblazer Television began airing in February 2024 as a FAST channel on Netgem UK and Plex UK with programming supplied by Boat Rocker Studios.^[16][17] At this stage, the channel operated as a single-stream linear channel featuring adventure- and automotive-themed programming such as Tougher Than It Looks, Junk Raiders and Vegas Rat Rods.^[17]

The addition of INSP content in late 2024 expanded Trailblazer Television’s schedule to include Western and Americana-themed series such as Blue Ridge and The Cowboy Way, alongside classic Western films.^[17][18]

Trailblazer Television launched on the Freeview platform in late 2024.^[19][12] Advertising-supported video-on-demand (AVOD) functionality on Freeview was subsequently introduced in May 2025, accessed using the red button interactive application.^[20][17]

In September 2025, Trailblazer TV transitioned from a single-stream service into a multi-channel FAST portal.^[17][1] As part of a partnership with Hearst Networks, a number of FAST channels were added to the platform: Deal Masters, Inside Crime, Mystery TV and World War TV launched on 16 September 2025, followed by History Hunters on 18 September 2025. This expansion marked a shift in Trailblazer TV’s role from a standalone linear channel to a channel portal hosting multiple themed services via a sub-electronic programme guide (sub-EPG).^[1]

On 12 November 2025, the FAST channel Western Bound was added to the Trailblazer-branded sub-EPG on Freeview and Freely. Trailblazer Television continues to operate under its original branding on Netgem UK.^[17]