Freely is on course to become the UK’s leading free television platform within the next decade, according to new forecasts published by operator Everyone TV as broadband adoption accelerates and traditional terrestrial television continues its long-term decline.
The updated projections, produced by independent analysts 3 Reasons, suggest Freely will be available in 10.5 million UK households by 2034, while the number of homes relying on Freeview’s digital terrestrial television (DTT) platform is expected to fall below one million.
The figures arrive at a crucial moment as the government considers the long-term future of television distribution in the UK, with ministers expected to publish proposals on the future of terrestrial broadcasting in the coming weeks.
The report highlights the rapid pace of broadband adoption across the country. The number of TV households without broadband is forecast to fall from 1.2 million today to just 220,000 by 2034, representing less than 1% of UK TV homes. The forecast has been revised significantly from earlier estimates after broadband take-up exceeded expectations over the past two years.
According to BARB data cited in the report, 84% of UK households now connect their television to the internet, up from 66% in 2020. At the same time, 73% of Freeview households already use both broadband and terrestrial television to access content.
Everyone TV, the organisation owned by the UK’s public service broadcasters and responsible for both Freeview and Freely, said the findings demonstrate growing readiness for internet-delivered television.
Jonathan Thompson, CEO of Everyone TV, said any transition away from DTT would need to be carefully planned to ensure no audiences are left behind.
“The way audiences engage with TV is changing and these updated forecasts reflect that clear direction of travel,” he said. “It is vital that any future change in TV distribution is carefully planned and managed, that issues of connectivity and affordability are addressed, and that no viewer is left behind.”
Freely launched in 2024 as the broadcasters’ answer to a streaming-first future, combining live television channels and on-demand services delivered entirely over broadband. The platform has now passed one million users, having doubled from 500,000 between September and December 2025.
The forecasts are likely to fuel debate over the future of the UK’s terrestrial television infrastructure. While public service broadcasters have increasingly backed a move towards IP delivery, transmission operator Arqiva and campaign groups have argued that DTT should continue beyond the current 2034 guarantee to protect vulnerable and older viewers.
