The free-to-air satellite TV platform, launched by the BBC and ITV in 2008 faces future cuts in channel choice.
- It will lose its last remaining dedicated sports channel at the end of the month.
- It’s going to lose all of its music channels.
- Freesat’s movie section has already shrunk to just three channels.
Freesat was launched ahead of digital switchover to ensure households could access a wide range of free-to-air television channels, especially in areas where terrestrial coverage was weak or didn’t offer the full range of channels. It’s commonly accessed via a standalone receiver, although there are some smart TVs with Freesat built-in.
However, the platform is bearing the brunt of decisions by various broadcasters to close free-to-air channels, move content online or concentrate on bigger platforms that reach higher audiences. It follows a sharp drop in ad revenues in the television sector.
Sport, music, movie and children’s channels are at the forefront of the exodus of channels from Freesat.
Sport going…
The latest broadcaster to announce its shutting up shop is Sporty Stuff TV.
Although this will also affect viewers on Sky satellite and users of the streamed Freeview service within Channelbox (Freeview 271), for Freesat it means the loss of its last dedicated sports channel.
Sporty Stuff TV was launched to become the home of live Greyhound racing just three years ago. In a statement announcing the decision to close on 31st March 2024, Sporty Stuff’s CEO Kevan Moretti said “2023 was the Company’s most successful year of trading, so we leave now at the top of our game.” However, the company behind the channel was almost struck off at Companies House in November, after failing to publish its accounts in time.
Prior to the launch of Sporty Stuff, live Greyhound Racing was accommodated on a number of smaller, now defunct channels, including Showcase TV, Front Runner TV and Live 360.
Music going…
Meanwhile, Freesat is set to lose all of its music channels later this year. The Freesat music TV line-up comprises entirely of Channel 4-owned services. Channel 4 confirmed last month it would be closing its portfolio of music channels at an as yet unspecified point this year.
Other music channels currently broadcasting have chosen either to remain on pay TV platforms only, become available on free streaming platforms or broadcast free-to-air on Sky satellite only.
Movies and children’s channels almost gone…
In a triple whammy for Freesat, it’s lost all but three of its movie channels. and has just two children’s channels left.
Last month, Narrative Entertainment pulled all of its channels off the free-to-air satellite platform. It is currently focused on bigger TV platforms, including Freeview, where it can reach more viewers, while growing its online presence for younger viewers.
The last remaining movie channels on Freesat are Film4, Film4+1 and Talking Pictures. The last remaining children’s channels are CBBC and CBeebies.
After the exodus of channels: Freesat’s future
The operator behind Freesat and Freeview is preparing to launch a replacement service that will combine traditional broadcasting with online streaming.
The specifications for next generation TV platform Freely include provision for a hybrid satellite-IP set-up. This means any Freely receiver with an in-built satellite tuner will be able to combine what’s left of Freesat with the growing number of services that are switching to online delivery.
The shift means the current generation of Freesat receivers in circulation will almost certainly be the last. But although the channel choice is declining, current Freesat users will continue to be able to receive all main free-to-air broadcasters until at least the end of the decade.
Marc Thornham
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