[OLD BOY]

Originally Posted by epsilon

You do talk a lot of nonsense. Freely has introduced parallel DVB services over IP. These services are generally in HD, even when the over-the-air versions are sometimes in SD due to lack of capacity on the legacy multiplexes.
If there was any truth in your assertion that "Freely was designed to show them during this transitional phase", then surely they would have just left the traditional broadcast versions in place on Freely. The broadcasters have created a completely new infrastructure just for, wait for it...


traditional linear channels.

Well, that goes against everything I’ve read on this (apart from on this Forum, of course), so out of interest, I asked my good friend AI, which has proved remarkably accurate with the various questions I’ve asked, often confirmed later by professionals I have asked.

This is the question I asked:

Have the parallel DVB services over IP introduced for broadcast on Freely designed as a transition rather than a permanent feature?

This is the answer I received:

It looks like the “parallel DVB over IP” part of the Freely service in the UK is intended as a transition rather than a permanent fix — part of a longer-term move toward IP-delivery of linear TV. Here’s what the evidence suggests, and what the roadmap appears to be:

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What Freely is, and its hybrid approach
• Freely (launched in April 2024 by Everyone TV) aims to replicate the terrestrial TV experience but using both DTT (over the air via aerials) and IP (broadband / internet delivery). 
• It uses HbbTV Operator Application (OpApp) technology to enable linear TV channels delivered over IP to appear and be used much like broadcast channels, with seamless switching in the TV guide etc. 

⸻

Is this arrangement transitional?

Yes — there are several indications that the inclusion of parallel DVB broadcast services (e.g. DTT via aerials) is expected to be phased out over time, once IP delivery is sufficiently capable and universal. Some of the key points:
1. IP-only future is explicitly part of the plan.
Everyone TV says Freely is designed to “position UK broadcasters for an IP-only future.” 
2. Support for DTT is “initially” part of the service, with eventual possible full transition to IP.
The “Future of TV distribution” report confirms that Freely launched supporting DTT and IP, with the plan for satellite next, and with the express idea of “any future transition from delivery via DTT to IP only.” 
3. Licencing / regulatory spectrum horizons.
The licences for DTT broadcast (digital terrestrial television) in the UK currently run until the end of 2034. 
This suggests that DTT will remain supported at least until then, but implies that after that date there could be scope for switch-off of DTT in favour of IP, assuming other technical, commercial and regulatory preconditions are met.
4. Dependence on Device Support and Internet Coverage.
A full IP switch requires sufficient broadband connectivity everywhere, support in TV sets / hardware, fallback options etc. Freely is being built with the idea that many homes will have reliable broadband, but in practice, until (a) the remaining homes without good broadband are addressed, (b) devices are broadly compatible, and (c) IP delivery can replicate or exceed what broadcast provides (reliability, picture quality, low latency, etc.), broadcast will continue. 

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What this means in practice
• Initially, users will often see both broadcast (via aerial) and IP versions of channels. Which delivery is used may depend on the device and setup, or user preference, or sometimes fallback (e.g. if aerial/broadcast signal is weak or unavailable). 
• Over time, more channels may migrate to being provided only over IP, especially where cost, spectrum reallocation, or efficiency make broadcast less viable.
• The transition is expected to occur over a timeline of years. The reports suggest that by the 2030s there might be enough coverage and consumer uptake that DTT could be switched off, or at least greatly reduced. 

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Conclusion

So: yes, Freely’s parallel service (broadcast + IP) appears to be a bridge rather than a permanent state. The design is explicitly to move toward a broadcast-to-IP transition in a way that is seamless (so viewers don’t see much change), but with DTT maintained during the transition to ensure coverage, inclusion and reliability until IP can fully take over.

As for the ‘linear ‘ channels themselves, these are unlikely to be broadcast as streaming services in the future because having these running side by side with streaming videos is uneconomic. However, the cheap as chips FAST channels are likely to continue for the time being.

In the short term after 2035, the government might insist that the main five channels continue to be displayed as streaming channels. However, the long tail of smaller and themed linear channels could well be replaced by on-demand libraries or algorithmic streaming feeds. The end state is probably a hybrid world: a smaller core of linear IP channels plus a wide mix of streaming content.