Standard definition (SD) television broadcasts will be discontinued on 30 June 2025. From then on, all TV channels will be available exclusively in high definition (HD). The vast majority of Finnish households are already equipped to receive HD broadcasts. Operators in the television sector encourage people to check whether their own devices, and those of their friends and family, are HD compatible to ensure continued access to television after the change.
On 30 June 2025, Finland will complete its transition to HD broadcasting as all SD channels go off air. After the change, all television broadcasts will be available exclusively in high definition.
"From then on, watching television broadcasts will require a TV or a set-top box with an HD tuner. If HD channels are already visible on your TV, no action is needed. A channel scan will be required after the change, but many modern televisions perform this automatically," says Tom Jungell, SVP Broadcast from Digita.
These TV channels will switch to HD broadcasts at the end of June
SD broadcasts will end on 30 June for the following television channels: MTV3, Nelonen, MTV Sub, TV5, Liv, Jim, Kutonen, TLC, STAR Channel, MTV Ava, Frii and National Geographic. The transition work on these channels will begin during the morning of Monday 30 June and will last for several hours. For viewers already watching the HD versions, the changes will cause no interruptions longer than ten seconds.
The channels of Yle, the Finnish public service media company, already switched to HD on 1 April 2025. For viewers, HD broadcasts offer sharper picture quality, brighter colours and multichannel audio. At best, HD picture quality is up to five times sharper than SD.
Transition to HD is a joint effort by the entire television sector
The move to HD broadcasting is the most significant technical advancement in Finnish television since the digital switchover in 2007. The transition has been over a decade in the making, prepared in cooperation between television channels, network operators, industry organisations and the administrative branch of the Ministry of Transport and Communications.
"This is a major collective effort across the entire sector. Our goal is to ensure that people in Finland continue to receive the best possible picture quality and that TV distribution technology meets the needs of today," representatives of the TV channels say in a joint statement.
In communications, collaboration has also included civil society organisations, electronics retailers, libraries and wellbeing services counties.
"For us at Traficom, it is important that the entire Finnish population keeps pace with technological progress. With the HD transition, we can also use the limited frequencies allocated to television more efficiently," explains the Finnish Transport and Communications Agency Traficom’s Director-General Jarkko Saarimäki.
Finns have embraced HD broadcasting at a rapid pace
According to the latest data from Traficom, only around 2 per cent of television households – an estimated 50,000 – still lack an HD-compatible receiver. Just a year ago, the figure was over 180,000.
Of Finnish households, 94 per cent own at least one television, and many also have one at their summer cottage. It is worth checking the HD compatibility of the cottage TV as well, to ensure continued access to broadcasts.
"At Traficom, we have been monitoring the adoption of HD equipment in Finland over the long term. It is encouraging to see that many people have already made the switch to HD broadcasts. We have communicated widely about the HD transition and worked in partnership with the entire TV sector and various organisations to ensure that the message reaches as many population groups as possible," says Director Lasse Laine from Traficom.
Remember to recycle old devices
Instead of buying a new television, many people have opted for an HD set-top box, which makes an older TV HD compatible. Representatives of the TV sector would also like to remind viewers that old televisions are easy to recycle: they can be taken to a WEEE (waste electrical and electronic equipment) collection point or returned to an electronics store when purchasing a new device.
Where to find help?
You can easily check whether your television is HD compatible by watching this instructional video (External link) (in Finnish)
Instructions for performing a channel scan (External link)
More information about the HD transition: hdtvopas.fi (External link)
Find your nearest WEEE recycling point (External link)
Enquiries
Lasse Laine, Director, tel. +358 29 534 5563, lasse.laine@traficom.fi
Artturi Kavaja, Project Manager, tel. +358 29 534 7379, artturi.kavaja@traficom.fi
Increase in HD ready equipment in households (External link)
HOW TO CHECK IF YOUR TELEVISION IS HD READY
- Check whether HD channels appear in the TV channel list (programme guide). HD channels are available on slots 1–20 in both the terrestrial (antenna) and cable TV network. If you can see content on these channels, the transition does not require you to purchase a new receiver.
- If the content of the HD channels is not displayed, it can either be that the housing company's antenna system is not compatible with HD broadcasts, or that your TV or set-top box does not have an HD tuner. In the latter case, you need to get a TV or set-top box with an HD tuner to be able to view TV broadcasts even after the transition.
- If you live in a housing company and you are not sure about your reception network, contact the property manager or a representative of the housing company's board. They can tell you whether TV broadcasts are received via a terrestrial or cable TV network in your housing company. If you live in a single-family house and have a UHF antenna on your roof, you probably receive TV broadcasts via the terrestrial TV network.
- Almost all new televisions and set-top boxes on sale have an HD tuner that is usually suitable for both terrestrial TV and cable TV networks. You should check with the seller, who has an obligation to tell you about the features of the devices they sell.