The BBC, which owns the multiplex that carries the last remaining HD channels on Freeview, is holding back from renewing an Ofcom licence. This could spell the end of Freeview HD.
- Nine HD channels could be axed.
- Support for reduction in Freeview service.
- BBC only major broadcaster not to have committed to retaining Freeview services beyond next two years.
The future of HD TV on the digital terrestrial television (DTT) platform Freeview remains unclear, 15 years after the public launch of Freeview HD.
As it stands, Freeview viewers may lose access to HD channels before the end of next year. It follows a previous reduction in HD channels back in 2022, when a multiplex licence was terminated.
HD channels, including BBC One HD and ITV1 HD, broadcast on a DTT multiplex operated by BBC commercial subsidary BBC Free to View Limited. It is the only national multiplex operator to have not taken up the option to renew its licence. It is also the only multiplex currently configured to carry HD channels.
The last remaining non-BBC multiplex to carry HD channels had its licence terminated on 30th June 2022, which led to a reduction in services. BBC Free to View Limited’s licence expires on 16th November 2026, meaning unless the licence is renewed, nine HD channels plus three SD channels will have to close.
BBC last to commit to Freeview
The BBC is last major public broadcaster to have not committed to Freeview beyond the next two years.
ITV1, STV, Channel 4 and Channel 5’s renewed broadcast licences, which start today for a period of 10 years, commit the channels to remain available on Freeview, although there is no such obligation for their offshoot channels.
Digital 3&4, the multiplex operator that carries most ITV and Channel 4 services, plus Channel 5 in standard definition on Freeview, has renewed its DTT licence until 31st December 2034.
The BBC has indicated it is unable to commit further due to the pending Royal Charter renewal, which will determine the broadcaster’s role in the coming decade.
The HD closedown could come before the BBC’s Royal Charter renewal negotiations are concluded, highlighting the need to urgently clarify the broadcaster’s role in delivering services on the HD multiplex.
The BBC ended up responsible for distributing both BBC and non-BBC HD services on Freeview after Ofcom ordered the broadcaster in 2008 to clear its multiplex to make way for new HD services. These HD services went live to limited audiences in December 2009 before a public launch in 2010.
Support for HD closure
Some in the broadcast industry are understood to be supportive of the retrograde step of closing HD and reducing channels as a way of encouraging viewers to switch to streaming TV platforms. The BBC and other broadcasters warned Ofcom that the current cost of broadcasting terrestrially will become unviable in the coming years. Meanwhile, BT and Sky have previously lobbied the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) in favour of a switch to online TV platforms. The two companies currently operate two of the biggest linear IPTV platforms in the UK.
However, switching off standard definition (SD) simulcasts of the main five channels, as has already happened on cable and satellite, in favour of HD-only broadcasts could drive uptake of newer TVs that support hybrid terrestrial-streaming services. This includes TVs that support the free-to-air broadcaster-led Freely platform, making it easier in the long run to wind down Freeview.
What has led to this situation?
In 2021, the Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) consulted on a framework that would allow five of the six national DTT multiplexes to renew their licences until the end of 2034. This led to Ofcom gaining powers to grant renewals. By 2023, the multiplex licences of four of the five affected national multiplexes had been renewed, leaving only BBC Free to View without a renewal for the HD multiplex, also officially known as either PSB3, BBC-B or Multiplex B.
In 2021, the BBC said it supported deferring the option to extend the licence until closer to the current expiry in 2026. The BBC stated that this was primarily because they thought it was “prudent and sensible to ensure that the most informed decision could be taken over the specific role of Multiplex B within the DTT platform and to ensure that the BBC continued to meet its obligations to exercise rigorous stewardship of public money.”
The BBC also operates a further DTT multiplex – known interchangably as BBC-A, PSB1 or Multiplex 1 – under the terms of its Royal Charter, which expires in 2027. This carries the BBC’s channels in standard definition. As a result, Multiplex 1 is not included in this licence renewal process.
History of Freeview HD
Following a successful technical pilot from December 2009, Freeview HD officially launched to the public 15 years ago in March 2010.
Near full UK coverage was achieved in 2012 following the conclusion of digital switchover. Viewers were encouraged to buy TVs bearing the Freeview HD logo to receive all available channels in their area. It wasn’t until 2016 before all of the main five UK-wide channels were available on the platform.
Between 2013 and 2022, capacity for extra HD channels on Freeview was made available via extra DTT multiplexes. However, growth of HD channels was stifled by long-term pay TV deals which kept HD versions of popular free-to-air channels including ITV3 HD and E4 HD behind a paywall during this time. The BBC used some of the extra capacity to launch additional HD channels. In the end, the extra capacity closed and the bandwidth taken over by 5G mobile network operators. Existing services had to either close or find limited space on remaining Freeview capacity.
The same situation could now happen in November 2026.
By: Marc Thornham