National Lottery channel?

A new channel is coming to Freeview. “National Lottery Xtra” has appeared in the Freeview channel lineup, on Channel 45. But is it actually a channel? It seems that National Lottery Xtra will broadcast for one hour a day, from  08:45 to 09:45, seven days a week.

Does this really consistitute a TV channel? To us, that sounds like a “TV programme” not a “TV channel”. Presumably, the channel’s entry in the Programme Guide will show 23 hours of nothing, then a one hour show… and presumably Freeview will count this “programme” as a channel, upping the number of channels on their platform. At least it’s not taking up much space on the system, as it appears to be using the dead time where the channels Gems TV and Film4 aren’t broadcasting.