Freeview, the free-to-air television service used in over 16 million UK homes, could be switched off as early as 2034 under plans backed by the country's leading public service broadcasters. The BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5, which jointly own the platform through Everyone TV, argue that the rise of streaming and superfast broadband has made the aerial-based service increasingly obsolete.
A report for the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) estimates that by 2035, 1.8 million homes will still depend on Freeview. Ofcom research shows these households are disproportionately disabled, older, living alone, female, and located in the north of England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Campaigners warn that switching off the service would leave these vulnerable viewers without access to television.
Lynette, 80, a Freeview user who signed a petition against the switch-off, described the service as 'essential' and criticised streaming platforms as 'time-consuming and irritating'. The petition, launched by Silver Voices, has gathered nearly 100,000 signatures. Dennis Reed, founder of Silver Voices, called the issue a 'political hot potato' and accused the government's stakeholder forum of being biased towards a streaming future.
The DCMS is considering three options: an expensive upgrade to Freeview's ageing technology, maintaining a limited service with core channels, or a complete switch-off over the 2030s. Broadcasters favour the latter, citing the 2034 expiry of contracts with network operator Arqiva. By then, Freeview's main TV set usage is forecast to fall from a peak of 12 million in 2012 to under 2 million, making advertising revenue uneconomic.
Concerns have also been raised about the reliability of internet-based TV for emergency broadcasts, such as those during the Covid pandemic. The UK radio industry warned that a switch to internet-only TV could force some stations to close if distribution costs rise without broadcasters sharing the load. The Future TV Taskforce, representing the broadcasters, insists the shift offers a chance to 'close the digital divide once and for all' with careful planning.
