Freeview viewers across the UK are facing up to 48 hours of disruption from Wednesday 24th to Friday 26th June 2026 due to high-pressure weather conditions. The service, which supplies millions with television content, is experiencing interference that can cause picture glitches, freezing, or loss of signal.
Why High Pressure Affects Freeview
The current spell of sunny weather is caused by a band of high pressure sitting over the UK. While ideal for outdoor activities, it interferes with Freeview signals. The BBC explains that high pressure causes signals from local transmitters to travel higher into the atmosphere, while signals from distant transmitters travel further than normal and interfere with local broadcasts.
Freeview's Advice to Viewers
In a statement, Freeview said: “Freeview viewers across parts of the UK could see some disruption to their TV reception from Wednesday 24th to Friday 26th June 2026. This is due to high pressure weather conditions which could disrupt the TV signals which Freeview uses.”
Unfortunately, adjusting settings or retuning the television will not solve the issue. Freeview advised: “You are advised not to retune your TV during this time, reception will be restored once the high pressure passes.”
Alternative: Freely Internet TV
For those tired of weather-related interruptions, Freely offers an alternative. Developed by the same organisation behind Freeview, Freely delivers television through a broadband connection rather than terrestrial signals. It is not affected by high-pressure interference and offers over 50 live and on-demand channels, pause live TV, personalised recommendations, and an interactive guide.
