https://rxtvinfo.com/2025/majority-w...cted-from-axe/
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The Digital Poverty Alliance (DPA) – a UK-based charity dedicated to addressing the digital divide and combating digital exclusion across vulnerable communities – is calling on the government to give long-term protection to the UK’s free-to-air terrestrial TV service, as new research finds strong support (73%) for retaining it and low awareness that its future is under threat.
Ministers are currently examining the future of TV distribution ahead of a decision on whether to continue Freeview.
Findings include:
90% value terrestrial TV for ensuring people who cannot afford expensive monthly bills have universal access to information and entertainment
75% agree that terrestrial TV helps reduce loneliness
73% believe that terrestrial TV should be protected well beyond 2035
85% say that terrestrial TV is important to help understand history and traditions
70% of the public feel reassured knowing that terrestrial TV is there as a backup
More than 2/3 of people (69% are unaware that terrestrial TV is under threat
In 2024, free-to-air broadcasters and regulator Ofcom warned of a tipping point in terms of the viability of terrestrial TV broadcasts. The BBC highlighted the increasing cost of terrestrial TV per user. It also put a question mark over whether or not it could justify the ongoing expenditure.
Commercial multiplex operators are already struggling to fill capacity as channels switch to streaming instead. The BBC has so far refused to commit to maintaining terrestrial TV services. The broadcast licence for one of its digital terrestrial TV multiplexes expires next year.
What the public say they want and what they’ll get may be two different things.
It seems to me that the operators want to move on to IP based systems, which means that streaming is bound to take over. The question is, by when? If the operators get their way, it’ll be sometime between 2030 and 2035, and only government intervention will change that. But is the government prepared to meet the costs of retaining terrestrial in these cash-strapped times?
Then, of course, there is the added pressure from the industry to use the bandwidth currently used for TV to provide more 5G services.
My own view (others are free to disagree) is that the government should accept the way the industry is going, but add a requirement that there must be a means by which non-tech savvy pensioners can access easily those services they actually want. If the industry is charged with that requirement, they would be able to act collectively to ensure the changes the government requires are realised. It shouldn’t be too big an ask.
The other barrier is broadband services, so perhaps an increase in the state pension for the poorest should be implemented to the value of a basic broadband service. Additionally, any remaining ‘not spots’ should be plugged to ensure that everyone can use the service.