Need to know
Support is growing for a campaign which said hundreds of thousands of vulnerable people would lose their TV
Need to know: Freeview’s Future Under Threat as 110,000 Sign Petition to Save Service
- A government minister has addressed growing fears over Freeview’s future as more than 110,000 people sign a petition demanding the service be protected.
- The campaign has gained momentum after Sky urged the government to end traditional broadcasting and move to internet-only TV by the 2030s. Independent MP Dan Norris questioned ministers about the impact on areas with poor broadband connectivity.
- Ian Murray, Minister of State for Media, Tourism and Creative Industries, insisted digital inclusion remains a priority. He said: “Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) is protected until at least 2034, safeguarding access for millions of households.”
- Freeview faces potential closure by 2034 as the government explores moving to internet-only television. The transition risks leaving hundreds of thousands of vulnerable households without TV access.
- Lynette, 80, from Kent, warned the switch would be devastating for older viewers. “Free Terrestrial TV is essential for me – I don’t want to be choosing apps and making new accounts,” she said.
- The service reaches 16 million homes and is the principal TV platform for 40% of UK households. MPs stressed during a Westminster Hall debate that licences supporting terrestrial television expire in 2034 with no government pledge to extend them.
- The Future TV Taskforce supports a “carefully planned, managed transition” to internet-delivered TV in the mid-2030s as part of a broader digital inclusion plan.
- READ THE FULL STORY: Freeview to be ‘switched off’ update as Government issues new response
At Reach and across our entities we and our partners use information collected through cookies and other identifiers from your device to improve experience on our site, analyse how it is used and to show personalised advertising. You can opt out of the sale or sharing of your data, at any time clicking the “Do Not Sell or Share my Data” button at the bottom of the webpage. Please note that your preferences are browser specific. Use of our website and any of our services represents your acceptance of the use of cookies and consent to the practices described in our Privacy Notice and Terms and Conditions.
