The New Dark Age

Monday 24 August 2026 — 38 Degrees

Unbelievable,

The Government is threatening to switch off Freeview – the free telly you get from an ordinary aerial. If they get their way, millions could be forced to pay for expensive broadband or lose their TV entirely. The move risks leaving older people, those in rural areas, and anyone feeling the pinch isolated and priced out of watching TV. [1]

The good news is that it’s not a done deal yet. The bad news is we don’t have long to try and stop these plans.

There’s an official consultation happening right now, but it closes in just seven days. [2] And you can bet that tech lobbyists are making their voices heard, which is why we need a massive public outcry against this.

If thousands of us speak up now, we’ll take every single signature straight into the official consultation to send one loud, clear message: keep free TV free for good.

Just weeks into the job, Andy Burnham won’t want one of his first defining acts as Prime Minister to be repeating Keir Starmer’s mistake: targeting older people. [3] If we apply enough public pressure right now, we can force the Government to scrap these plans and save free TV.

Thanks for your support,

Olivia, Veronica, Robin and the 38 Degrees team

NOTES
[1]The Mirror: Campaigners say plans to switch off Freeview would show ‘extraordinary cruelty towards the vulnerable’
[2] Gov.uk: Watch this space: a new strategic direction for UK media – green paper and public consultation
[3] BBC news: Starmer announces U-turn on winter fuel payment cuts