BBC and ITV join coalition demanding UK digital participation strategy

The push for a formal strategy signals that broadcasters like the BBC and ITV view digital exclusion as a direct threat to the reach of public service media. As the UK targets a full-fibre transition by 2032, the streaming industry must reconcile the move toward IP-only delivery with the reality that millions remain offline due to cost or lack of skills. This shift forces a transition from traditional broadcast mandates to a hybrid model where platforms like Freely must bridge the gap between legacy access and online-first infrastructure. Watch for the Treasury’s upcoming review of the future of television to see if these recommendations influence mandatory affordability standards for broadband providers.

The Connection Project's push for a national digital participation strategy arrives as the UK's public service broadcasters accelerate their shift toward IP delivery. Freely, the joint streaming platform launched by BBC, ITV, Channel 4, and Channel 5, surpassed 1 million active users by early 2025, according to Everyone TV, signaling strong initial uptake but also highlighting the gap between early adopters and the millions still reliant on terrestrial broadcast. The platform's hybrid model, which combines live broadcast channels with on-demand streaming over broadband, is designed to serve as the bridge between legacy Freeview and a fully IP-connected future, making digital inclusion directly relevant to its long-term viability.

On the regulatory front, Ofcom has been actively examining how the transition away from traditional broadcast infrastructure affects vulnerable viewers. In its 2024 Media Nations report, Ofcom found that 11% of UK adults had not used the internet in the preceding three months, a figure that aligns with the Connection Project's estimate of roughly 22 million people at risk of digital exclusion. The UK government's own Digital Strategy set a target for nationwide gigabit-capable broadband, later revised to 2032 for full fibre, but a Public Accounts Committee report in late 2024 warned that rural and low-income households were falling behind schedule. The Treasury's upcoming review of the future of television is expected to address whether public service content obligations should extend to affordability requirements for broadband access.

From a technical and market perspective, the challenge of maintaining universal access during an IP transition is not unique to the UK. In Australia, the government's Digital Television Advisory Committee recommended in 2025 that free-to-air broadcasters retain a broadcast simulcast until at least 2030, citing similar concerns about household readiness. Closer to home, Openreach has connected more than 5 million UK premises to its full-fibre network as of mid-2025, yet coverage alone does not address affordability or digital literacy barriers. The Connection Project's inclusion of major banks such as Lloyds, HSBC, and Barclays alongside broadcasters reflects the cross-sector recognition that digital exclusion now affects financial services, healthcare, and media simultaneously, making a coordinated national response more urgent than piecemeal industry initiatives.