Functionality is being deactivated, channels are disappearing. What is happening to Freesat and what should current users expect for the future?
- Static number of users, no new receivers for nearly five years, little development.
- Plans to launch hybrid receivers that support Freely instead.
Launched in 2008 as a means to get free-to-air television to all viewers ahead of digital switchover, notably in areas with poor terrestrial signal, Freesat still has around 2 million users.
But it’s nearly five years since the last generation of receivers was unveiled, extra features are being withdrawn and viewers continue to witness a decline in the number of channels that are available.
Has Freesat reached a tipping point into decline? Are broadcasters no longer investing in the service? RXTV investigates the latest developments and why they are happening.
System switch-off means no remote recording
Freesat IDs, accounts that allowed users to pair their mobile app with their satellite receivers, fell victim of the cutbacks to the service during June. That’s left viewers without the ability to remote record on devices, although recording is still available.
The switch-off was blamed on “internal system changes“. For context, Freesat IDs were set up when Freesat was still run independently. Since 2021, it’s been owned by Everyone TV (formerly Digital UK), the organisation that also runs Freeview and Freely. As a result, standalone systems for Freesat are being wound down, not maintained or discontinued.
Analysis: Loss of Remote Record inconvenient for viewers, but broadcasters would rather you catch-up on streaming instead
With broadcasters investing millions in streaming, there’s not much love for those viewers who still record programmes. The broadcasters would rather viewers visited their streaming services to catch-up on programmes. ITV and Paramount-owned Channel 5 have a strong commercial incentive to drive more viewers to streaming, with investors in ITV Plc and Paramount analysing streaming take-up closely.
And Everyone TV along with other platform operators aren’t actively promoting or supporting recording devices with in-built hard drives.
For one thing, whenever there’s a major channel change, or a switch from SD to HD, there’s been little or no communication warning viewers that changes will affect scheduled recordings. Secondly, if new devices have an advertised recording facility, it is more likely to be cloud-based, severely restricted and may in fact drive viewers to streaming services, as Sky Glass/Sky Stream users have found out.
Channels departing – is this Freesat’s tipping point?
In February, the GREAT! network of channels abruptly left Freesat, resulting in the loss of numerous movie and children’s channels. On Monday, Freesat viewers are set to lose all music channels. Other broadcasters, while broadcasting free-to-air on satellite have chosen not to pay extra for a Freesat listing. This means they don’t appear in the channel list, despite the receiver being able to pick up a signal.
For context, Sky and Freesat share the same satellites and the feed for any particular channel can be used by both Sky and Freesat services, so the only extra cost is to pay for an inclusion on Freesat’s channel list.
Earlier this year, broadcasters raised concern that the growth of streaming would force digital terrestrial TV (aka Freeview) over a tipping point making it unsustainable. Freesat it seems will reach a tipping point sooner and public broadcasters including the BBC have indicated they’ll need to start discussing the future of satellite TV.
In the meantime, broadcasters insist there are no plans to close satellite TV services.
Analysis: Freesat’s reach is low compared to other platforms
Freesat’s reach has stagnated in recent years. Freesat says it currently reaches “over 2 million homes”, yet that figure hasn’t increased much since 2011, just three years after launching.
Sky and Freeview in comparison enjoy much higher user numbers. Sky’s total TV subscriber number is understood to be over 10 million, but now also includes streaming users. Sky’s parent company Comcast declines to provide a breakdown of users per platform. Freeview is used in over 16 million homes.
As a result, broadcasters don’t consider the extra cost of launching on Freesat as worth it for so relatively few homes. Should Everyone TV offer a bundle for broadcasters that includes terrestrial + satellite + streaming for its new Freely service, this may temporarily change things.
Freely is a new streaming platform, that can fall back on terrestrial or satellite TV signals when there’s poor internet connectivity or if a particular channel isn’t available via streaming. Freely TVs that fall back on digital terrestrial TV signals are now available in shops. Satellite compatible devices are expected soon.
No new Freesat receivers
It’s been nearly five years since a new range of Freesat receivers was introduced on the market. In a world where device manufacturers pump out new models every year, five years is a very long time without any development.
However, some smart TV manufacturers have since then launched new models that include Freesat access.
Since all free-to-air platforms were consolidated under the control of Everyone TV, all development has been focused on Freely, as the single replacement service. Therefore, no new generation of Freesat receiver has been announced. Over at Sky, the situation is similar, with no replacement for Sky Q scheduled, in favour of developing Sky Glass/Sky Stream.
Analysis: Future of satellite TV uncertain beyond 2030, so makes little commercial sense to churn out new models
As reported previously by RXTV, the current fleet of satellites that provide Sky and Freesat users across the UK and Ireland with a signal will reach end of life by the end of this decade.
Sky is already heavily pushing its streaming service, it’s getting rid of its satellite installers and currently only has a carriage contract with satellite operator SES until 2028.
With such uncertainty, it makes more sense to focus on introducing satellite receivers that will work with Freely. Like the currently available terrestrial counterparts, Freely satellite receivers will be able to receive services either via satellite or IP-streaming. The specifications for Freely devices includes the ability for broadcasters to switch viewers from a terrestrial or satellite feed to an IPTV feed.
What should current Freesat users do?
If you are reliant on a satellite signal because your terrestrial TV signal is poor and you don’t have reliable broadband, there’s no like-for-like replacement.
But if full-fibre broadband has reached you, then once the first satellite-compatible Freely devices come on the market, you’ll be able to combine both satellite and IP-streaming until such point when IP-streaming completely takes over. With IP-streaming, you won’t need to sacrifice on picture quality. That’s because Freely, unlike Freeview, will support many more HD channels by default.
However, for the reasons mentioned above, it’s unlikely anything will come on the market that will allow you to record linear TV channels as was once easily possible.
By: Marc Thornham | Image: Zone 2 Sky/Freesat dish