Freely is set to become the UK’s leading free TV platform, possibly overtaking Freeview in the next ten years and changing how millions watch TV at home.
Forecasts from June 2026 predict Freely will reach 10.5 million UK homes by 2034,while Freeview’s aerial service could drop to fewer than one million households.
Freely, a broadband streaming service supported by BBC, ITV, Channel 4, and Channel 5, now has over one million weekly users—double the number from late last year.
What this means for consumers
This change makes it easier for people to watch live TV and catch-up shows without needing a roof aerial or set-top box. All you need is a compatible smart TV and Wi-Fi.
Many new TVs from brands such as Hisense, TCL, and Panasonic have Freely built in. They offer a single guide for live channels and on-demand content from iPlayer, ITVX, Channel 4, and My5.
Freely offers more HD channels than traditional Freeview and lets you pause or restart live shows. People in rooms without aerial sockets or those living in flats can now access free TV more easily.
Freeview is still the main TV platform in about 9.7 million homes, but 73% of these households also use internet TV. The number of homes using only aerials has fallen to about 2.6 million.
Why Freely has challenges as a UK free TV platform
But not everyone benefits in the same way. You need a reliable broadband connection, as buffering or outages can interrupt live news or sports.
Older viewers or people in areas with weak signals may find the switch difficult. Some users have reported app glitches, slow loading, or freezing on certain TVs.
Freeview keeps working without the internet during power or broadband failures, giving it a reliability that streaming services do not have. Freely also has fewer options for recording shows compared to Freeview boxes.
Why Freely will continue to dominate
Freely keeps adding channels, now offering over 60 live options and lots of on-demand content. It gives viewers free public service content as an alternative to paid services like Netflix.
This means watching TV is simpler without switching between apps. Younger viewers are helping Freely grow because of its easy-to-use modern design.
Households looking to save money can still watch popular shows without paying for subscriptions.
Industry experts think moving to internet TV is unavoidable, much like earlier digital changes. As Freely becomes more popular, people who are still using Freeview may feel pushed to upgrade when their old TVs stop working.