Is Freeview being switched off?
Not yet, but it's planned. In June 2026 the government's Green Paper said its preferred date to end TV through an aerial is 31st December 2034, with a later 2044 date as the alternative. The consultation closed on 31st August 2026 and a final decision is due in a white paper. Nothing changes before then.
Checked 4th November 2026.
Worth knowing
- Both options end with live TV coming over broadband, through services such as Freely, which needs a connection of at least 10Mbps.
- The Green Paper says any help for households would be industry-led and that public funding shouldn't be assumed.
- If you rely on an aerial, nothing needs to change now. If you're replacing a TV anyway, one with Freely built in is ready for the switch.
Answer checked by Tely. Prices from each provider’s own UK page, checked 4th November 2026. How we check. Reuse with credit: data for journalists.