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OLD BOY · 30-01-2026, 19:08

https://www.cordbusters.co.uk/sky-st...an-end-sooner/

[EXTRACT]

Freeview and Freesat could be switched off by 2034 – and new research from Sky claims only 330,000 households would be left behind.

That’s the headline finding from a major study published this week, and it’s far more optimistic than the government’s previous estimate of 1.8 million households still needing help by 2035.

But there’s a big “if” attached: it only works if the government announces a clear timeline around 2027, giving people seven years to prepare, and invests properly in helping vulnerable groups get online

The broadcasters are becoming increasingly concerned about the cost of maintaining the existing broadcast system and this I believe will decide the date on which the transmitters are switched off for TV broadcasting. My bets are on 2024 as being the year for the switch-off. Satellite broadcasting will already have been run down or terminated by then.

There is still no news on converting channels to streaming on demand at this point, but I think that will happen at the same time. There is not really any point in doing both, but of course there are differing views on that.

30-01-2026, 19:08	#1309
OLD BOY Rise above the players Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Wokingham Services: 2 V6 with 360 software, ITVX, 4+, Prime, Netflix, Apple+, Disney+, Paramount+, Discovery+ Posts: 15,317	Re: The future of television https://www.cordbusters.co.uk/sky-st...an-end-sooner/ [EXTRACT] Freeview and Freesat could be switched off by 2034 – and new research from Sky claims only 330,000 households would be left behind. That’s the headline finding from a major study published this week, and it’s far more optimistic than the government’s previous estimate of 1.8 million households still needing help by 2035. But there’s a big “if” attached: it only works if the government announces a clear timeline around 2027, giving people seven years to prepare, and invests properly in helping vulnerable groups get online The broadcasters are becoming increasingly concerned about the cost of maintaining the existing broadcast system and this I believe will decide the date on which the transmitters are switched off for TV broadcasting. My bets are on 2024 as being the year for the switch-off. Satellite broadcasting will already have been run down or terminated by then. There is still no news on converting channels to streaming on demand at this point, but I think that will happen at the same time. There is not really any point in doing both, but of course there are differing views on that. __________________ Forumbox.co.uk Last edited by OLD BOY; 30-01-2026 at 19:11.