Millions rely on terrestrial TV. We cannot let it die
4 min read
The Labour Government must act to keep terrestrial television. The people who rely on it most are often those in our society who have the least.
Most of us take for granted that when we switch on our television we can watch the news, a soap or a documentary without having to pay any extra for the privilege. For generations, universal access has been guaranteed by the terrestrial TV service, free-to-air and received in homes through an aerial. But that universal guarantee is now in doubt.
The licenses that support terrestrial TV expire in the early 2030s and the last Conservative government refused to give any guarantees that they would be extended. Instead, they commissioned Ofcom to conduct a review, which laid out three options: keep terrestrial, wind it down, or switch it off completely. Labour ministers must now decide which path we take.
I wholeheartedly believe we ought to keep this vital service, which millions of people across the UK rely on. Even as new ways of accessing TV grow, terrestrial still makes up the bulk of viewing. Streaming over the internet is great if you can afford it, but it requires a high-speed fixed broadband connection, up-to-date technology, and sometimes expensive monthly subscriptions. For many people in our society, these pose huge barriers.
Terrestrial TV is simple, reliable, and free—no extra costs, no complicated setup. The people who rely on it most are often those in our society who have the least: people on lower incomes, who struggle to afford monthly subscriptions and might rely on mobile data to access the net; older people, who might not be tech-savvy enough to feel confident streaming; our isolated rural communities, who often lack a reliable broadband connection. If terrestrial TV were switched off, millions of the most vulnerable people in society would be at risk.
A new report by the consultancy EY makes clear just how steep the cost would be to society if we try to force all TV viewing online. The figures are staggering – £2.1bn upfront would fall on viewers, taxpayers and industry. And the ongoing costs are just as eyewatering, estimated at £1bn a year. The 4.3m households who currently lack a high speed broadband connection would be faced with paying £218 per year – money many of them do not have.
As the Digital Poverty Alliance has argued, even a basic internet connection is often the first thing that gets cancelled when families need to tighten their belts. Without the universal guarantee of terrestrial TV, our neighbours and friends could be locked out of participating in the cultural life of our nation.
Previous research from EY on this issue revealed that by 2040, 5.5m UK premises are predicted still to be without a high speed broadband subscription, despite the government’s commitment to 99 per cent network coverage by 2030. The figures I have seen for my own constituency of Rotherham suggest that a quarter of premises will still lack the means to stream TV by 2040 – years after the current terrestrial TV licenses expire. The people who rely on terrestrial TV deserve to be treated with respect and given the certainty of knowing that the service they rely on will be there for them in the years ahead.
The Broadcast 2040+ campaign is asking the Government to provide that certainty. They are a coalition of voices representing charities, broadcasters and industry, speaking up for the UK’s current hybrid model, with terrestrial providing universal quality content and online streaming options there for those who can afford them. EY says that this model is working well and serving the needs of viewers. Seventy five per cent of us are happy with how we are currently receiving TV and do not think it needs to change.
With the public finances under strain and household budgets still feeling the pinch, the last thing we need is an expensive upheaval in TV distribution that risks cutting off millions of the most vulnerable viewers. There are not many quick wins in politics, but guaranteeing that we will all be able to stay connected is one.
Sarah Champion is the Labour MP for Rotherham.
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