You can watch a huge amount of UK TV for nothing beyond your TV Licence. Freeview (via an aerial), Freely (via broadband, no aerial) and Freesat (via a dish) all give you live channels free, and the catch-up apps — iPlayer, ITVX, Channel 4 and My5 — add thousands of hours on demand.
No subscription, no contract, no monthly bill.
Before you pay for anything, it’s worth knowing just how much you can watch for free in the UK. Here’s how the free platforms compare and which one suits you.
Freeview — free live TV via an aerial
Freeview gives you 70+ live channels (including HD) through a normal TV aerial, with no subscription. Almost every TV sold in the UK has a Freeview tuner built in. If you have an aerial and a reasonably modern telly, you already have it.
Freely — free live TV over broadband (no aerial)
Freely is the newer service that streams live UK channels over your internet connection, so you don’t need an aerial or dish at all. It’s built into a growing range of smart TVs and combines a live guide with the catch-up apps in one place. Great for homes with a poor aerial signal.
Freesat — free live TV via a dish
Freesat delivers 200+ channels through a satellite dish with no monthly fee – useful in areas with weak terrestrial (aerial) reception.
The free catch-up and streaming apps
- BBC iPlayer – live BBC channels plus a huge on-demand library (TV Licence required).
- ITVX – ITV live and on demand, with a free ad-supported tier.
- Channel 4 – live and box sets, free with ads.
- My5 – Channel 5 live and catch-up.
Which free option is best for you?
- Have a working aerial? Freeview is the simplest.
- No aerial / poor signal? Freely over broadband, or a streaming device for the catch-up apps.
- Weak terrestrial reception but a dish? Freesat.
Do I still need a TV Licence?
Yes, if you watch live TV on any channel or service, or use BBC iPlayer at all, you need a TV Licence – even for free channels. On-demand apps other than iPlayer (like ITVX or Channel 4 catch-up) do not require one, but as soon as you watch anything live, you do.
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