Do you need a TV aerial?
Less often than you used to. With broadband, Freely gives you live BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and 5 without one. An aerial is still worth having if you want to record, if your Wi-Fi is patchy, or if you’d rather not rely on it.
When you need one, and when you don’t
- You need an aerial to record live TV with a recorder, or for live channels in a room with weak Wi-Fi.
- You don’t if a Freely TV or box over broadband covers what you watch. Live channels over Freely need at least 10Mbps.
- Not sure? Keep my telly asks three questions and tells you what you need.
What it costs
| Job | Typical | Range |
|---|---|---|
| New rooftop aerial, fitted | about £250 | £200 to £300 |
| Replace an existing aerial | about £125 | – |
| Loft aerial, fitted | about £120 | £90 to £150 |
| Extra TV socket in another room | about £110 | £70 to £150 |
| Repair call-out | – | £85 to £165 |
Including materials, labour and VAT. Labour tends to cost more in the south. Source: Checkatrade’s cost guide.
Before you book
- Check your local transmitter. Freeview’s channel checker shows which channels your postcode should get, and from where.
- Get more than one quote, as Freeview advises, in writing.
- Ask what’s included: a signal test before and after, the aerial, the bracket, cabling to each room you want, and the sockets.
- Ask about a guarantee on the work and the parts.
- Use a qualified installer. Freeview points to GetMeViewing, run by the Confederation of Aerial Industries, and GetMeDigital, which lists Registered Digital Installers.
Find a checked local aerial fitter
Quick answers
- How much does a TV aerial cost to install?
- A new rooftop aerial typically costs £200 to £300 fitted, about £250 on average, according to Checkatrade. Replacing an existing aerial is about £125, and an extra socket in another room about £110.
- Do I need an aerial to watch live TV?
- Not any more, if you have decent broadband. Freely brings live BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and 5 over Wi-Fi, through a Freely TV or box. You do need an aerial (or a satellite dish) to record live TV with a recorder.
Sources: Checkatrade, TV aerial installation cost; Freeview, finding an aerial installer. Checked November 2026.