UK broadcasters are calling for the UK's largest free-to-air TV platform, Freeview, to shut down by 2034 as viewing habits shift towards online services like Netflix and YouTube. Despite being used by over 16 million households, the service faces an uncertain future due to technological advancements and changing consumer behavior.
A report by Ofcom has predicted that fewer than 2m homes will rely on Freeview by 2035, citing a decline in digital terrestrial television (DTT) viewership. The UK's public service broadcasters argue that an internet-based TV platform offers the potential to bridge the digital divide and improve access to content for vulnerable audiences.
However, critics argue that such a transition would be unaffordable without government support, particularly for those who cannot afford or do not have access to broadband connections. There are also concerns over whether online services can deliver emergency broadcasts and news as reliably as traditional DTT.
The debate has sparked fears of a "TV blackout chaos" similar to the 2012 nationwide digital switch-over process that saw millions of households transition from analogue to digital TV. While previous attempts at digital switchover resulted in largely seamless transitions, there are concerns about whether the current plan will work without significant investment in infrastructure and support for vulnerable audiences.
One industry expert predicts that YouTube could become the dominant player in the UK's online TV market, potentially rendering traditional free-to-air services obsolete. As the UK moves towards a fully internet-based TV landscape, it remains to be seen whether the benefits of this shift will outweigh the costs and disruptions to existing viewers who rely on Freeview.
A report by Ofcom has predicted that fewer than 2m homes will rely on Freeview by 2035, citing a decline in digital terrestrial television (DTT) viewership. The UK's public service broadcasters argue that an internet-based TV platform offers the potential to bridge the digital divide and improve access to content for vulnerable audiences.
However, critics argue that such a transition would be unaffordable without government support, particularly for those who cannot afford or do not have access to broadband connections. There are also concerns over whether online services can deliver emergency broadcasts and news as reliably as traditional DTT.
The debate has sparked fears of a "TV blackout chaos" similar to the 2012 nationwide digital switch-over process that saw millions of households transition from analogue to digital TV. While previous attempts at digital switchover resulted in largely seamless transitions, there are concerns about whether the current plan will work without significant investment in infrastructure and support for vulnerable audiences.
One industry expert predicts that YouTube could become the dominant player in the UK's online TV market, potentially rendering traditional free-to-air services obsolete. As the UK moves towards a fully internet-based TV landscape, it remains to be seen whether the benefits of this shift will outweigh the costs and disruptions to existing viewers who rely on Freeview.
I mean, come on... can't they just keep Freeview going? It's not like everyone's gonna suddenly lose their minds if DTT disappears 
. And what about all the old folks who don't even have broadband? They're still watching telly because it's easy to use and doesn't require a PhD in tech 
. Do we really need internet-based TV just yet? 
I'm not convinced that online services can replace the live content and immediacy of traditional TV, especially for news and emergency broadcasts. And what about all the lost revenue from ad sales when everyone's watching on YouTube instead? 
It's all a bit too much to take in... can we just stick with something reliable for once? 
... if YouTube becomes the dominant player in the online TV market, that's like giving Google a stranglehold on our digital lives 
it's not just about freeview going down, it's about the bigger picture... and i'm not convinced this is all just about 'progress' 
. Can you imagine not having BBC iPlayer or Channel 4 All 4 anymore? It's like losing a part of our collective childhood 
. But seriously, I think this is the future we're heading towards – online TV taking over. And let's be real, who doesn't love binge-watching on YouTube all day? 
Just don't expect me to cancel my Netflix subscription anytime soon 
. It'll be like the world's gone mad if people are forced to watch ads on YouTube... that'd be a nightmare 
.
if they shut down freeview it's gonna leave some people in the dark literally 
like what about those who don't have broadband? it's not everyone's cup of tea having super fast internet and some ppl might just lose access to their fave shows 
i know we need 2 move forward but lets make sure we take care of our most vulnerable citizens first 
they need access to important info like news and emergency broadcasts