Freeview may soon be switched off and I've just seen why that's a terrible idea

Freeview is under serious threat. The TV service, which has been supplying content to UK homes since 2002, is only guaranteed to continue running until 2034, with the government yet to decide its fate after that date. The biggest threat to Freeview, and other over-the-air TV platforms, is streaming. More and more homes are now ditching aerials and Sky-style dishes and switching to broadband-powered services such as Freely and Sky Stream instead.

A recent report from Everyone TV (the company that runs both Freely and Freeview) and independent analysts 3 Reasons, suggests that Freely will be in 10.5 million UK households by 2034.

During the same period, Freeview usage is expected to fall to below one million. Watching TV via broadband has its advantages, including easy DIY installation and more regular feature upgrades.

So streaming is clearly the future, but my own recent experience has shown why there could be a serious problem.

Over the past few weeks, my usually stable broadband has been having issues.

Intermittent broadband blackouts have been plaguing my street, with one recent outage leaving us without internet access for over two hours.

Along with not being able to browse the web and send emails, I also couldn't watch TV.

My screen is fully broadband-powered - I don't even have an aerial on my home - so without any web access, my viewing was completely scuppered.

Luckily, there wasn't anything pressing that I really wanted to watch, but what if the same thing happens during the World Cup Final or during the finale of a blockbuster show,?

Some internet service providers (ISPs) do offer 4G/5G backup for when fixed-line fibre routers go offline, but this isn't standard across the industry.

Until the UK gets connectivity that's robust enough to cope with the demands of everyone streaming, there must continue to be other ways of tuning into content.

There’s also the issue that some rural areas still aren’t getting good enough speeds to cope with streaming.

The updated forecasts for homes without broadband in 2034 is now around 220k. It’s a small number but those people can’t simply be forgotten.

Speaking to Express.co.uk about the streaming switch and the issues that the industry faces, analyst Paolo Pescatore said: “Everyone TV, the group behind Freely, is fighting to stay relevant as viewers continue to shift toward Netflix, YouTube, Prime Video and other streaming platforms.

"The direction of travel is clear: TV is becoming IP-led. But Everyone TV has too often looked one step behind, playing catch-up in a market already moving at pace. Freely needs to be everywhere, otherwise it risks being nowhere.

"The connectivity piece is also moving at pace. Openreach, Virgin Media O2 and a long list of altnets are collectively rolling out fibre at fury, ensuring more parts of the UK are being connected.

“According to Ofcom’s Spring 2026 update, gigabit-capable broadband is now available to 89% of UK homes, covering 27.1 million households, while full-fibre continues to rise rapidly across the country.

Routers should increasingly include backup connectivity options

“This matters because the move to streaming and the eventual Big TV Switch-Off cannot happen in isolation. It needs the infrastructure to match. Fibre, 5G, fixed wireless access and satellite will give users a myriad of connectivity options, helping close gaps in rural, hard-to-reach and underserved areas.

“As more essential services move over IP, providers must ensure better redundancy during power outages and broadband failures. Routers should increasingly include backup connectivity options, such as mobile failover, so households are not left without access when the main fixed broadband line drops.

“The UK is edging closer to a more connected, IP-led future. The challenge now is not just rollout, but take-up, affordability, in-home Wi-Fi, device access, resilience and ensuring no one is left behind."

More news about the big Freeview switch off is expected soon, I just hope the plug isn’t pulled to early and millions aren’t left without TV if the broadband goes offline.