A period of challenging TV reception lies ahead for UK households trying to watch popular shows like The 1% Club or Strictly Come Dancing. Unfavorable weather conditions caused by a persistent high-pressure system hovering over the UK are expected to disrupt Freeview signals, affecting viewers throughout the week.
Freeview issued a statement warning viewers of potential disruption from October 10th to October 15th, 2025, attributing the interference to the impact of high pressure on the TV signals used by Freeview. The phenomenon of high-pressure systems affecting TV signals is not uncommon in the UK and can lead to signal weakening or interference from distant transmitters.
As explained by the BBC, high pressure can result in signal issues due to the elevation of the local transmitter signal and possible external signal interference. The current weather conditions are anticipated to persist until October 15th, causing inconvenience for Freeview customers, who may be tempted to troubleshoot the problem independently.
Despite the frustration, Freeview advises against adjusting TV settings during this period, assuring customers that reception will return to normal once the high-pressure conditions subside. To mitigate the disruption, viewers with internet-connected TVs featuring Freeview Play can switch to online services instead of relying on aerial signals.
An alternative solution is Freely, a service from the creators of Freeview and Freesat, which transmits content via broadband rather than traditional over-the-air signals. This method remains unaffected by weather conditions, ensuring uninterrupted viewing even during storms or high-pressure events, with over 40 channels available for live and on-demand content viewing.
For those seeking additional options, Sky offers online viewing through Sky Glass TVs and Stream boxes, both utilizing broadband connections instead of satellite dishes. These alternatives provide reliable access to content without weather-related signal disruptions.