Install aerial cable.

Installing TV aerial cabling in the UK typically costs £60–£250 for a single new outlet, depending on cable run length and number of points. Multi-point installations (TV in multiple rooms): £150-£500+ for typical 3-4 point setup. The work spans drilling external walls, running cable through cavities or surface-mounted, and fitting wall plates with appropriate connectors.

For UK homes wanting Freeview, satellite (Sky / Freesat), or community antenna distribution, getting cabling right matters — poor cable installation is the most common cause of "weak signal" complaints when the aerial itself is fine.

Typical UK costs

Common installation scenarios

• New TV in new room — typically tap from existing main feed via splitter, run cable to new wallplate.
• Multi-room from existing aerial — distribution amplifier + multiple cable runs.
• Existing aerial, new TV brand connector — wallplate change to match new TV's connector type.
• Aerial moved to better position — re-cabling required when aerial is repositioned.
• Remove existing satellite, install Freeview only — cable type change (satellite uses different cable).
• Loft conversion / extension — extending cabling to new rooms during build.

Cable types

• Coaxial cable (RG6 / Webro WF100) — standard for both terrestrial Freeview and satellite. WF100 is UK industry standard.
• Satellite-grade cable — sometimes higher-spec needed for very long runs or high-frequency satellite signals.
• Distribution cable for HDMI — different category; for distributing HDMI signals, not aerial signal.
• Cat5/6 for IPTV — for home network video distribution; not aerial cable.

Things people often miss

• Cable quality matters — cheap mass-market coaxial loses signal over long runs. WF100 is the UK standard for new installs.
• Connector quality — soldered or compression-fitted connectors are reliable. Cheap "screw on" connectors fail; cause poor signal complaints.
• Cable runs through walls — surface-mounted cabling in trunking is unsightly but cheap; chasing cables into walls is tidier but more expensive (£20-£40/m extra).
• Distribution amplifier limits — splitting a signal too many ways causes weak signal at all points. Distribution amplifier (£40-£90 + fitting) boosts and redistributes.
• Outdoor cable rated — UV-resistant outdoor coaxial used for the run from aerial to building. Standard indoor cable degrades outdoors within 5-10 years.
• External wall sealing — wallplate cable entries should be sealed externally to prevent water ingress. Often overlooked, leads to interior damp.
• Old cabling — pre-2000 cabling often loose-fitting, poor specs. May be cheaper to fully replace than to debug intermittent issues.

Frequently asked questions

Want a local pro to handle this? A CAI (Confederation of Aerial Industries) member or established local aerial installer handles cabling cleanly. For complex multi-room setups, IPTV / HDMI distribution specialists may be more appropriate than traditional aerial fitters.