Ministers back streaming-only TV future for the UK
Key Points
- The UK Government is preparing a green paper to phase out terrestrial TV signals and move all TV distribution to streaming.
- The proposals have been signed off by Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy and Technology Secretary Liz Kendall and will be published in the coming weeks.
- The current 2034 terrestrial TV deadline could be extended, with campaigners pushing for 2040 to protect older and vulnerable viewers.
- The switchover depends on full-fibre broadband reaching every UK home by 2032, with ministers exploring subsidies for around one million households that struggle to afford broadband.
- Freely, the BBC, ITV and Channel 4 joint venture, will succeed Freeview, and a separate review will decide whether FM radio also switches off in the 2030s.
Ministers are drawing up plans to switch off terrestrial TV in the UK and move entirely to streaming.
Lisa Nandy (Culture Secretary) and Liz Kendall (Technology Secretary) have signed off the proposals, which a green paper will outline in the coming weeks, according to The Telegraph.
The government will attach conditions to protect viewers, including nationwide affordable superfast broadband, simple streaming interfaces and dedicated support for those making the transition.
Current legislation allows traditional TV to continue until at least 2034. Campaigners want the deadline pushed to at least 2040, warning that older and vulnerable audiences risk being cut off.
Arqiva, the company behind Britain’s terrestrial TV and radio masts, backs the campaign and holds a significant commercial interest in extending the life of traditional broadcast networks.
The BBC, ITV and Channel 4 are pushing to accelerate the transition, arguing they face escalating costs to maintain energy-intensive terrestrial signals as viewers shift to streaming.
The public service broadcasters have already begun laying the groundwork through their Freely joint venture, which offers live and on-demand programming via streaming and will succeed Freeview.
The service initially worked only on smart TVs, but the broadcasters have rolled out streaming sticks that plug directly into older sets with no internet connection.
The switchover hinges on full-fibre broadband reaching every part of the UK, with BT among the providers leading the rollout. Ministers have committed to nationwide coverage by 2032.
The Government has flagged concerns about one million homes that struggle to afford broadband even on cheaper social tariffs, and is exploring a subsidy funded either through state support or a levy on consumer bills.
Broadcasters are teaming up with telecoms companies and high street banks including HSBC, NatWest and Barclays to argue that the digital switchover will deliver wider benefits beyond TV.
The government has launched a separate review into whether FM radio signals should also switch off in the 2030s, after the commercial radio industry warned that discussions about the future of terrestrial masts were overlooking it.
“We are committed to ensuring that no one is left behind as TV viewing increasingly moves to online platforms,” a Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport spokesman told the Telegraph.
Ofcom’s Spring 2026 Connected Nations update, published this month, shows full-fibre broadband now reaches 82% of UK homes, or 24.9 million premises, up from 78% in July 2025.
Gigabit-capable services are available to 89% of homes, equivalent to 27.1 million premises. Superfast broadband at 30Mbps or more remains at 98% coverage, while the number of premises unable to access a connection meeting the Universal Service Obligation has fallen from 44,000 to 4,000 in the past six months.
Full-fibre adoption stands at 42% of premises where the service is on offer. Ofcom projects full-fibre coverage will reach 86% to 95% of UK properties by January 2028, rising to 91% to 97% for gigabit-capable networks, giving ministers a six-year runway to the 2032 deadline.
