UK government sets 2034 or 2044 target for terrestrial TV switch-off

The transition moves the UK media strategy from debating 'if' terrestrial TV ends to 'how' it serves audiences via broadband. For the streaming ecosystem, this mandates a standardized technical layer across disparate operating systems to ensure public service content remains prominent. Hardware manufacturers face new interoperability requirements, as the government explicitly links switch-off success to open standards that prevent platform lock-in. Watch for the public consultation results in late 2026 to confirm whether the aggressive 2034 timeline will prevail, impacting roughly four million current DTT-reliant households.

Additional context. Preceding this Green Paper, 3 Reasons reported in May 2026 that the number of UK households without broadband is projected to drop to just 220,000 by 2034, which equates to 0.8% of the total TV market. This optimistic data has bolstered arguments from 'Freely'—the joint streaming venture between the BBC, ITV, and Channel 4—which passed one million weekly users in January 2026, per Everyone TV. These figures contrast with earlier 2025 government estimates that suggested up to 5% of viewers could be left behind without significant infrastructure intervention.

In early June 2026, a parliamentary response from the DCMS triggered significant pushback; I Paper reported that 17 MPs signed a letter warning that a forced broadband transition acts as a de facto 'charge' on low-income and elderly audiences. This socio-economic friction is mirrored in the telecom sector, where ISPreview noted in June 2026 that while 90% of UK premises now have gigabit access, reaching the final 10% in hard-to-reach areas remains dependent on the £5 billion Project Gigabit scheme finishing by 2032.

The commercial implications are also expanding. According to TVBEurope in June 2026, the transition will include extending the 'Listed Events' regime to on-demand rights, ensuring tentpole sporting events like the FIFA World Cup remain free-to-air on digital platforms. However, the radio sector has expressed distinct caution; Radiocentre stated in June 2026 that shared transmission sites mean a DTT shutdown could significantly inflate distribution costs for terrestrial radio, leading to an industry-wide assessment due for completion in autumn 2026.