BBC, ITV and Channel 4 announce plans to integrate Digital UK and Freesat

10 February 2021

The BBC, ITV and Channel 4 have announced plans to integrate Digital UK Ltd, the joint venture which facilitates the provision of Freeview TV services and Freesat (UK) Ltd, which offers access to the UK’s subscription-free satellite television service.

The integration of Digital UK and Freesat will help ensure viewers continue to have access to a range of free-to-view TV services in the UK as well as benefit from technological innovations and developments across the two services.  

Jonathan Thompson, CEO, Digital UK, said: “We welcome this opportunity to work more closely with Freesat whilst continuing to deliver our mission of ensuring everyone in the UK can access a high quality TV service for free. The combined entity will promote the very best of free-to-view content whilst reflecting the changing nature of consumer consumption.”

Alistair Thom, CEO, Freesat, said: “We believe that building on the best that both Freesat and DUK have to offer will ensure that free to air continues to be an exciting and vibrant proposition for UK consumers.  This proposition will continue to provide UK viewers with great content however they choose to consume it, whether that is linear or on demand.”

The integration is conditional on receipt of merger control and regulatory approvals, and, subject to those approvals, is expected to close in a few months. 

Ends

Notes to Editors

About Digital UK

Digital UK is the joint venture which facilitates the provision of Freeview TV services in the UK including Freeview Play.  Digital UK works in partnership with many organisations across the industry to deliver a resilient, secure, universal, quality, innovative TV service.

Digital UK’s connected TV service, Freeview Play, brings together the best of the UK’s free content, live and on-demand from leading broadcasters, including the UK’s public service broadcasters. It is available on the majority of smart TVs sold in the UK and features 30,000 hours of on-demand content. 

Providing viewers with a compelling foundational TV service on to which OTT services can be added, Digital UK plays a key role in delivering consumer choice and supporting the UK’s broadcasters by driving share and prominence.

For more information about Freeview and the work of Digital UK, please visit the website at: www.freeview.co.uk/corporate].

PR contact details: liz.reynolds@freeview.co.uk 

About Freesat (UK) Ltd

Freesat facilitates access to subscription-free satellite television in the UK, offering brilliant free recordable TV together with the latest streaming services, including catch-up and pay-as-you-go.

First and foremost, it’s about giving viewers content, choice and amazing value. But it’s also innovative, ambitious and agile, whether that’s adding new services or finding new ways to help the channels that are available. Profits are invested back into the business, helping to maintain a great user experience for all customers. 

Established in 2007 by the BBC and ITV, Freesat is available via TV and set-top box. Customers have access to a wide range of channels providing entertainment, news, music, and children’s programming and on-demand favourites such as BBC iPlayer, ITV Hub, YouTube, Netflix and Prime Video.

www.freesat.co.uk

PR contact details: amanda.willard@freesat.co.uk