Government preparing terrestrial TV switch-off plan
May 18, 2026
The UK Government is reportedly preparing a Green Paper, to be published within the next few weeks, that will set out the roadmap for switching off terrestrial TV signals in favour of internet-based streaming.
The Government is currently committed to DTT until 2034, but Sky suggested earlier this year that a switch-off as early as 2030 is feasible.
Forecasts suggest that by 2040, just 5 per cent of homes (around 1.5 million people) would still rely on traditional airwaves, were they to still be available.
Currently, some 39,000 UK homes are unable to receive broadband speeds capable of reliable streaming, whilst 9 per cent of households struggle to afford a basic broadband connection, risking a ‘TV blackout’ for some of the most vulnerable.
Responding to the news, Alex Tofts, strategist at Broadband Genie, commented: “While moving to a full internet delivered TV system would offer better features, higher video quality and savings on infrastructure and maintenance cost, we cannot underestimate the risk of leaving thousands of people excluded and widening the digital divide. Reliable broadband access is not universal and for some low-income households, the cost of subscriptions, compatible devices, and sufficient data allowances remains a significant barrier.”
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