- Data reveals over 23 million TVs able to receive Freeview have been sold in the last decade. They’ll all need to be upgraded.
16 million homes receive Freeview as their primary TV platform, according to latest audience data.
That makes the digital terrrestrial television platform still the dominant way of accessing traditional TV services. There are just over 28 million households in the UK in total.
According to GfK data, over 23 million Freeview-capable TVs have been sold in the last decade. Many of the TVs are Freeview Play compatible, combining terrestrial TV with on-demand and live streaming services.
But broadcasters are pressing ahead with plans to launch a full streaming alternative that will force those 16 million homes to upgrade by 2035. Each and every one of the 23 million Freeview devices sold, plus any older TVs still in use will need to be upgraded, either by replacing the TV or adding an additional box.
Freeview’s platform manager Everyone TV is planning to use its new Freely platform to move viewers away from terrestrial broadcasting. Tim Davie, the boss of its most vocal shareholder, the BBC, already set out plans in 2022 that would see the broadcaster go online-only.
In the first few years, Freely will combine existing terrestrial TV services with internet-based TV services. The specifications for Freely receivers stipulates that they will work like traditional terrestrial TV receivers when not connected to the internet*.
Once connected, broadcasters will be able to switch viewers seamlessly from terrestrial to online. Once enough viewers have adopted Freely, it’s expected broadcasters, including Channel 4, will start turning off smaller channels.
What’s in it for the viewer?
The BBC and ITV will use HD broadcasts as a carrot to attract viewers to Freely, with both broadcasters to offer all of their channels in HD, whereas Freeview is only guaranteed to offer a small number of HD channels until 2026.
Additionally, broadcasters will be able to offer more pop-up streaming channels, such as those carried in the live section of ITVX that aren’t available on traditional TV services.
At present, 15% of homes are already broadband-only in terms of TV, either chosing to access TV via apps or through dedicated streaming TV platforms like Sky Stream. By 2030, broadband-only TV homes are expected to be in the majority.
Migration to streaming by 2035
Freeview was given a reprieve at the end of 2030, when the frequencies used for the service were safeguarded at the World Radiocommunications Conference in Dubai. As part of the international agreement, broadcasters across the UK and Europe will have primary rights to the frequencies. Nevertheless, the Government expects streaming to become dominant, with licences to broadcast terrestrial services only to run until 2035.
This gives broadcasters just 11 years to encourage enough of the current 16 million Freeview homes to switch to streaming based TV services, rendering all of the 23 million Freeview capable devices sold in the last 10 years as obsolete. Existing TVs won’t be upward compatible with Freely. And there is also an wider issue regarding availability of full fibre broadband services, especially in areas where commercial incentives to build and extend networks aren’t present.
Despite Freeview’s days in its current format being numbered, Owen Jenkinson, Director of Freeview, was upbeat at the latest figures. He commented:
“This new milestone cements the appetite for free, accessible TV in the UK as new players and channels continue to be added to the service every year at no cost to viewers.”
The challenge now is to convert that appetite to free streaming in a way that justifies viewers having to buy new equipment.
By: Marc Thornham | image: Shutterstock