Broadcast 2040+ Campaign Highlights Growing Support for 2044 DTT Transition

The Broadcast 2040+ campaign has highlighted growing cross-party support for retaining Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) until 2044, following recent parliamentary activity and new research into the resilience of terrestrial television.

The campaign said its cross-party open letter to Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy calling for a 2044 transition has gained further signatures from MPs, including Liberal Democrat MPs Richard Foord, Tom Gordon and Tom Morrison and SNP MP Seamus Logan.

The issue was also raised during a Westminster Hall debate on the Media Green Paper earlier this month. MPs from several parties highlighted the continued reliance on terrestrial television, with Caroline Voaden noting that around 12.9 million UK homes still use DTT and approximately 2.6 million rely on it exclusively. The debate also raised concerns about the potential impact of a DTT switch-off on other services using shared transmission infrastructure.

New polling commissioned by the campaign found that 82% of respondents would turn to radio or aerial television if internet and mobile networks became unavailable, rising to 91% among over-65s and people in rural areas. The research also found that 61% would support keeping terrestrial television through an aerial until at least 2044.

The campaign has also highlighted concerns around national resilience, as also reported by The Sun. Former Defence Secretaries Penny Mordaunt and Sir Gavin Williamson, alongside Shadow Culture Secretary Rebecca Paul, have argued that terrestrial television provides an alternative communications network during major disruptions to internet services. 

The Government has not yet made a final decision on the future of DTT. Its Media Green Paper sets out 2034 and 2044 as the two potential transition dates, with the Government describing 2044 as a more gradual option that could help maintain universal free-to-air access for households slower to adopt broadband.

The Broadcast 2040+ update comes as the Government considers responses to its consultation, with a further White Paper expected to set out the next stage of its plans for the future of UK television distribution.