Have a say on plans to

deactivate Freeview TV

Freeview TV could be switched off in less than 10 years under new government proposals.

People and organisations are now being asked to have their say on whether the service, which allows homes to watch TV for free through an aerial, is switched off in 2034 or 2044.

The proposal forms part of the government’s wider Watch This Space strategy, which includes a number of other measures intended to help preserve national media services.

Plans to switch Freeview off for good comes as ministers highlight that more homes are now consuming television via an internet-enabled device, such as a smart TV, rather than an aerial.

Many rural families, however, face a postcode lottery when it comes to reliable internet connections, meaning the plans could have a very real impact on hundreds of thousands of households.

While support has been announced for homes still reliant on traditional aerials, the process of installing new technology, particularly in properties that are older, could prove challenging.

The consultation is now live and responses to the Freeview question, as well as others linked to television viewing habits, must be submitted by 11:59pm on Monday 31 August.

More information can be found on the gov.uk website.