Media minister Stephanie Peacock has launched a new forum that will advise on the future of UK broadcasting.
It comes as new research published by the Department of Culture, Media and Sport showed some households risk being excluded from the shift towards online TV delivery.
Senior representatives from Ofcom, TV broadcasters, infrastructure operators and organisations representing audiences will form the new working group. It will consider how all viewers, including older people and those without internet connectivity on their TV, can continue to access world-class British content as consumer habits continue to change.
Gill Hind, COO and director of TV at Enders Analysis, Richard Lindsay-Davies, CEO of research and technology organisation Digital TV Group, and DCMS College of Experts academic Catherine Johnson will chair three smaller working groups supporting the forum, representing the TV sector, infrastructure and audience groups. These groups will meet separately to gather evidence and drive forward policy development ahead of the larger forum discussions.
“As the shift towards streaming and watching live broadcasting online continues, it is vital that no one is left behind. I want to ensure that as many people as possible can watch TV in a way that suits them,” said Ms Peacock.
Currently, there is no date for ant switch-off of DTT services, however Sky’s recent renewals with SES only go to 2028, while the BBC after a false start with BBC Three is looking to move BBC Four online.
Research led by Exeter University predicts that based on current trends, 95% of households will have the capacity to watch TV over the internet by 2040. However 5% of households, or 1.5 million people, will still rely on traditional linear broadcasting by the same year, without intervention.
The Broadcast 2040+ campaign says the review needs to prioritise how a shift to online-only services will impact our most vulnerable communities. Elizabeth Anderson, CEO of the Digital Poverty Alliance and member of the Broadcast 2040+ campaign said:
“There are millions of people who rely on terrestrial TV to stay informed, entertained and connected – and will do so for many years to come. These are often the poorest in our society who don’t have the option of buying smart TVs or expensive broadband subscriptions.”
This ‘unconnected’ group tends to be significantly older, have a lower socioeconomic status and live in rural communities. The cost of broadband and lack of digital skills are factors in preventing households from adopting IPTV or programmes delivered via the internet.
