Government consultation on the future of Freeview television

[cambiodenombre123]

The government is threatening to scrap Freeview TV. This would mean millions of people could be forced to pay for broadband or lose their TV. Bloody tech lobbyists are trying to push it through quietly and there's just days to stop them before an official consultation closes.

https://act.38degrees.org.uk/act/Save-Freeview-EOI?utm_source=whatsapp&utm_medium=share&utm_campaign=2026-08-24_Team%20Reactive&bucket=whatsapp-share-2026-08-24_

Well my mum would be screwed as she cannot afford to get the Internet installed and pay a monthly fee for it - she only has the state pension. Am sure there are loads of people like her too. I pay for her to have a mobile, but with about 40gb of data, and she doesn't use the Internet apart from on her phone! And she is rural Devon.

Signed

They can think again can't they. I love my freeview. It doesn't glitch, need a password or updating.

Will sign.

Signed, thank you OP.

Signed. ✔

Freeview is partly funded by the TV license.

Less people paying means less funding available.

I’m always a bit suspicious of these sorts of petitions. They’re never addressing a problem as described by people who circulate them.

So I had a look. In this case, the government is consulting on a switch off in 2034 or 2044. And by either date would ensure that other means of reception have been completed.

We all know that telly through the aerial is going to be switched off one day. Every government since Thatcher has worked towards that. Analogue TV has already gone. Analogue radio will follow in the future. And there are much better things we could do with the digital frequencies that are used to pump out the BBC, ITV and all the rest.

So no, I’m not signing this petition.

Thank you for the clarification. I guess it will probably be 2044 given how slow BT Openreach and others are to installing fibre to house cabling.

Even if we have by some grave misfortune a Reform led government, as they will not want to deny GB News to their core audience.

Signed.
I like this a simple.
i just want to switch on my tv and watch not update it or check my connection.

Bring back channel 1-5 then!
They forced everyone to get freebies when they turned the old signals off.

It’s a consultation that’s been open since June and closes tonight, so there’s not much point in signing a petition but not responding to the petition

https://www.gov.uk/government/consultations/watch-this-space-a-new-strategic-direction-for-uk-media-green-paper-and-public-consultation

The information, a “short read” and the response link are at the above link

The proposal is not to switch off freeview but about the technologies under which freeview is transmitted

I agree with your comment about the futility of this petition. But I think what you wrote about not switching off Freeview is a bit misleading:

The proposal is not to switch off freeview but about the technologies under which freeview is transmitted

The ‘easy read’ version of the summary says:

“We are looking into whether digital terrestrial television, known as Freeview television, should be switched off.”

It goes on to say:

”People usually watch Freeview through an aerial.

People who watch Freeview through an aerial would get help so they could watch TV using other ways, like the internet or a satellite
dish.”

So the proposal is to switch off Freeview through the aerial and deliver it differently. I think most people would understand that as Freeview switch off. Freeview itself says “Freeview is the UK’s digital terrestrial television service.“

Nobody need worry and the petition is a waste of time, but Freeview as we know it will be switched off.

I’m not saying that responding is a waste of time - I’m saying that the petition is a waste of time and that people should respond to the actual consultation

Yes, I understood that and I agree.