Guides / Free TV
Is Freeview being switched off? Where things stand, and what Freely means for you
November 2026. Desk research from the sources listed below.
Not yet, but it's planned. The government's June 2026 Green Paper prefers ending TV through an aerial on 31st December 2034, with 2044 as the alternative. It's a proposal, not law: a final decision is due in a white paper, and nothing changes before then.
Where the decision stands
- Terrestrial TV, which delivers Freeview and Freesat, is guaranteed until 2034, when the broadcast licences end.
- On 23rd June 2026 the government published a Green Paper. It sees a strong case for moving all live TV to broadband by 31st December 2034, and also consulted on keeping aerial TV alongside broadband until 2044. It said it doesn't see aerial TV continuing beyond 2044.
- The consultation closed on 31st August 2026. A final decision is due in a white paper.
- Help for households would be industry-led: ideas include low-cost broadband for people on low incomes and cheap streaming boxes for older TVs. The Green Paper says not to assume public funding.
- Arqiva, which runs the transmitter network, has argued for keeping terrestrial TV.
What Freely is
Freely is the free-to-air service from the companies behind Freeview, delivered over broadband instead of an aerial. You get live BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5 channels and their catch-up in one guide, with no subscription, on a Freely TV or a Freely box. It passed one million weekly users in January 2026, and one forecast expects it in 10.5 million homes by 2034.
What to do now
- Nothing, if you're happy with Freeview. Your aerial will keep working.
- If you're buying a TV, a Freely TV gives you both: aerial channels and broadband channels in one guide. See Freely TVs.
- For a room without an aerial socket, a Freely box or a streaming stick does the job. See the right box for every room.
Sources: GOV.UK (terrestrial TV to 2034); ISPreview: government consults on terrestrial TV switch-off (23rd June 2026); Cord Busters: when the government wants Freeview gone (24th June 2026); informitv (Arqiva, June 2026); Advanced Television (Freely users and forecast).