Platform operator of FREEVIEW and FREESAT reveals new name, new strategy and new faces at its annual "Outside the Box" conference.
Ensuring everyone can enjoy high quality TV across satellite, terrestrial and internet delivery, Everyone TV will lead the evolution of free television services in the streaming age.
EVERYONE TV is born today, the new name for Digital UK, the organisation that brings free British television to everyone and the platform operator of Freeview, the biggest platform in the UK, and of its satellite twin, Freesat.
Owned by the UK’s leading public service broadcasters, the change in name reflects a revised mandate for the organisation: to lead the evolution of free, universal, high-quality television, in a way that protects and strengthens the social glue provided by Britain’s broadcasting heritage.
From today, Everyone TV, a name that reflects the vital importance of cherishing the universal nature of television, will guide Britain into a new era where audiences can still watch their favourite PSB TV shows without charge whatever platform they choose.
Freeview and Freesat, which together offer 100% coverage of the nation and serve 18 million British homes, will retain their consumer brand identities. But the overarching company now has a name that underlines its mission to 'champion free TV for all', serving every British household in a bid to safeguard the nation's shared love of unifying, magical television moments.
To herald the next chapter in the company's history, there will be a new top-tier of Directors at Everyone TV under CEO Jonathan Thompson.
Jonathan will introduce his senior team to the industry at the Outside the Box 2023 conference in London this morning (Thursday January 26th).
Ahead of the event, Jonathan Thompson, CEO of Digital UK, said:
Jonathan Thompson - CEO, Everyone TV
"Among our tasks in the years ahead is defusing a threat to universality that could catch the industry by surprise. From the Queen’s funeral to the victorious England women’s football team, shared moments of sorrow and joy, drama and poignancy, are currently brought into every British home simultaneously by our world-leading television industry. But that could be lost in a fragmented future world of TV viewing. We at Everyone TV will lead the evolution of free television services in the UK so that universality - in all senses of the word - remains a fundamental principle."
Digital UK was founded in 2005 by the broadcasters and transmission companies of Britain with the purpose of masterminding the switchover from the analogue aerial system that had brought television into our homes since the first days of BBC TV in the 1930s to the Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) that we use today.
Digital UK's Chair of over ten years, Caroline Thomson, said:
Caroline Thomson - Chair, Everyone TV
"Digital UK has come a long way since it delivered digital switchover over a decade ago. The new name very much reflects the organisation's changed role in managing all the UK's free TV services to the benefit of viewers and wider society. With a strong track record of delivering results, a culture built on partnerships and collaboration, and support from public service broadcasters, I'm confident it can continue to serve UK audiences and the wider broadcasting ecosystem."
Jonathan Thompson added:
"Over the coming years, the vital role of television in information and education as well as entertainment will need careful oversight to protect it. Having the right senior leaders in post at Everyone TV is critical to ensuring we can achieve our strategic objectives of successfully delivering the evolution of our free TV platforms for a digital age and supporting the health of free-to-view TV for the long term."
Everyone TV will have a team with unrivalled experience in the areas of the TV industry that make all else possible in Britain’s world-beating broadcasting sector.
The strengthened chief-officer team now consists of:
Chief Commercial Officer:
Deep Halder, formerly Head of TV Retail & Content Services at Samsung UK
Chief Technology Officer:
Orf Warr, formerly CTO of Channel 4
Chief Product Officer (job share):
Sarah Milton, formerly Digital UK COO and Carl Pfeiffer, formerly Head of Distribution and Platform Partnerships, Channel 4
Chief Finance Officer:
Eric Mitchell, promoted from Finance & Legal Director
As of mid-February, Everyone TV will also take up a new home in Triptych Bankside behind Tate Modern, the venue for today's Outside the Box conference on the future of free-to-view TV.
About Everyone TV
Everyone TV is responsible for the day-to-day running of free TV platforms - Freeview and Freesat - as well as leading free TV’s evolution for a digital age.
Formerly known as Digital UK, the organisation was originally set up to manage and deliver the digital switchover (DSO) from analogue TV signals to digital terrestrial television (DTT), more commonly known as Freeview.
Everyone TV is a joint venture owned and supported by the BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5 with the latter joining as a member in late 2021. Freesat merged with Digital UK in the same year. With the UK’s two free-to-view TV services now under the leadership of one organisation, Digital UK has changed its name to better reflect its mission – to champion free TV for all.
For any further information on Everyone TV and Outside the Box 2023, please contact:
Liz Reynolds
Director of Corporate Communications & External Affairs
[email protected]
(or [email protected] from Thursday 26th)
07736 480356
Ben Fenton
Managing Partner, Mult Box Ltd
[email protected]
07703 751197
