UK Households Without Broadband Halved Anticipated Rate, Speeding Online TV Shift
A report by 3 Reasons for Freely indicates that the number of UK households without broadband fell by 30% between 2023 and 2025, significantly exceeding previous forecasts of a 10% decline. This data supports potential government initiatives to phase out digital terrestrial television, with updated forecasts suggesting only 220,000 homes will lack broadband by 2034, a quarter of earlier projections.
Key Takeaways
- UK broadband non-adoption fell 30% from 2023-2025, surpassing initial 10% projections.
- 1.2 million UK homes currently lack broadband internet access.
- Updated forecasts predict only 220,000 homes without broadband by 2034, down from 800,000.
- Everyone TV CEO Jonathan Thompson noted the shift reflects changing audience engagement with TV.
- The UK government is considering a Green Paper to plan the phase-out of terrestrial television.
- DCMS previously forecast 800,000 homes without broadband by 2034.
Why It Matters
The faster-than-expected decline in UK broadband deserts directly accelerates the timeline for online-only TV delivery, suggesting core infrastructure readiness is less of a long-term barrier than previously thought. This trend empowers initiatives like Freely and reinforces government considerations for phasing out DTT earlier than the 2035 commitment. For broadcasters and platform providers, it means a larger addressable market for IP-delivered content sooner, but also an urgent need to ensure equitable access and affordability for the remaining unconnected homes. Watch for the specifics of the UK government's Green Paper on terrestrial TV switch-off, which will outline concrete policy directions and timelines.
Read full article at tvbeurope.com
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