The future of television is a hotly debated topic, and one that has many viewers concerned. With the rise of broadband and streaming services, the traditional Freeview platform is facing an uncertain future. Will 2034 mark the end of an era for Freeview, leaving millions of viewers behind?
For almost 25 years, Freeview has been a staple for UK viewers, providing access to major broadcasters without any cost. Despite its popularity, with over 16 million homes and 10 million main TV sets relying on it, the very broadcasters that Freeview serves are now advocating for its shutdown within the next decade.
They argue that viewing habits have drastically shifted, with smart TVs, superfast broadband, and streaming services like Netflix taking center stage. More and more people are opting for internet-based programming, moving away from traditional aerials. However, this transition is not without its controversies.
Campaigners and advocates, like Lynette, an 80-year-old Freeview user, argue that millions of people will be left in the lurch if Freeview is discontinued. Many, like Lynette, prefer the simplicity and ease of use that Freeview offers, and are either unable or unwilling to bear the additional costs of broadband or pay-TV providers.
"I found Freeview essential," Lynette says. "I don't want to be choosing apps and making new accounts. It's time-consuming and irritating. If I make a mistake, I have to start all over again."
Lynette's concerns are shared by nearly 100,000 other signatories of an online petition to "save Freeview." They worry that the government's decision to potentially remove Freeview will disproportionately affect those who cannot afford, do not want, or are unable to use online alternatives.
A report by the Department for Culture, Media, and Sport (DCMS) estimates that by 2035, there will still be 1.8 million homes dependent on Freeview. These households are more likely to be disabled, older, living alone, female, and located in the north of England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland, according to Ofcom, the media regulator.
Freeview is jointly owned by the UK's leading public service broadcasters (PSBs) - the BBC, ITV, Channel 4, and Channel 5 - through Everyone TV, which also operates the Freesat and Freely platforms. After two years of examining options for the future of the free-to-air service, the DCMS is set to deliver its verdict soon, considering three options proposed by Ofcom: an expensive upgrade to Freeview's aging technology, maintaining it as a limited service with only core channels from the PSBs, or a "switch off" over the 2030s.
The PSBs have rallied behind the latter option, arguing that 2034 is the logical point to end digital terrestrial television (DTT), as their contracts with the network operator Arqiva expire around that time. By then, the number of homes using Freeview as their primary TV set is predicted to drop significantly, from a peak of almost 12 million in 2012 to less than 2 million, making it uneconomical to show TV commercials to such a small audience compared to the broadcasting costs.
However, there are concerns about the reliability of internet-based TV for emergency broadcasts, such as the daily TV updates during the Covid pandemic, compared to the universally available DTT system. The UK radio industry, which uses many of Arqiva's masts, has warned that a switch to internet-only TV could force some stations to close due to soaring distribution costs without the PSBs sharing the load.
"It's a political hot potato," says Dennis Reed, the founder of Silver Voices, adding that he has distanced his organization from the government's stakeholder forum process due to its perceived bias towards streaming.
The Future TV Taskforce, representing the PSBs on Freeview, counters that a shift to internet TV by the middle of the next decade could "close the digital divide once and for all." They want to ensure that no one is left behind and that every viewer in the country can continue accessing the content and services they value.
"As Freeview homes decline, the increase in distribution costs for broadcasters could lead to cuts in programming budgets," a spokesperson said.
The debate centers around how many of the 1.8 million homes reliant on Freeview in 2035 can be successfully transitioned to internet TV. Of those, 1.1 million are expected to have broadband but not use it for online TV services, while the remaining 700,000 are forecast to still lack a broadband connection.
Veterans of the 2012 nationwide digital switch-over process, which saw the analogue TV signal turned off after 76 years, recall similar fears of a "TV blackout chaos" for vulnerable viewers. Despite concerns about 6% of households being "digital refuseniks," a switch-over help scheme, including dedicated household assistance and a national ad campaign featuring a robot named Digit Al voiced by Matt Lucas, resulted in a seamless transition.
Tim Davie, the outgoing director-general of the BBC, has made it clear that he does not believe the corporation should fund a similar scheme leading up to Freeview's disappearance. New research for Sky, conducted by Oliver & Ohlbaum, estimates that with an awareness campaign and action on digital inclusion well in advance of a 2034 switch-off, only 330,000 households would ultimately need assistance to make the change.
According to Barb, the audience research body, 7% of UK households no longer own a TV set, opting instead to view video and TV content on other devices. If the UK's public service broadcasters succeed in pushing the transition to internet TV, there are questions about whether it might be a pyrrhic victory, with Silicon Valley rivals like YouTube increasingly winning over viewers in the digital age.
In December, the number of people watching YouTube in the UK on TVs, smartphones, and tablets surpassed the BBC's combined channels for the first time, although Barb's figures are based on a minimum of three minutes of viewing. With YouTube blocking Barb and its research partner Kantar from accessing viewership session data, it will be harder to gain insights into viewing trends in the future.
"When the government chose British Satellite Broadcasting as the 'winner' in satellite TV, it was Rupert Murdoch's Sky that emerged victorious," said a senior executive in the TV industry. "There's already an outsider ready to be the winner in the transition to internet TV - it's YouTube."
So, what do you think? Is the transition to internet TV an inevitable step towards progress, or does it risk leaving a significant portion of the population behind? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
