The Government’s consultation on whether to switch off Freeview in favour of online-only TV by 2034 ends Monday night, with opponents saying that renewed fears of a Russian cyber attack could force ministers to delay these plans.
Ministers say there is a compelling case for ending broadcasts over digital terrestrial aerials by 2034, citing the growing number of households with internet access. But they accept that a more cautious timeline, of a slower transition to TV via internet streaming by 2044, could be required.
Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy is set to make a decision later this year.
Labour MP Luke Akehurst, who opposes the 2034 plan, told The i Paper: “This is the final say for campaigners, MPs and the public to respond to the Government’s consultation and urge them to save free terrestrial television.”
Opponents have cited the increased threat by hostile states such as Russia and the potential cost to vulnerable and low-income viewers as reasons to delay the timeline.
National emergency fears
Moving to online-only TV too early would leave Britain more vulnerable to cyber attacks from countries like Russia, media consultancy Liberty Sky Advisors warned in a report last week.
The report, titled “A Risk Too Far”, found that switching off Freeview in 2034 “would give up the one broadcast network the UK controls” – of 1,100 digital terrestrial television transmission masts – “just as hostile states step up their targeting of British infrastructure”.
Russia has in recent weeks ramped up threats against the UK and Nato as Britain hardens its stance. The Government would need a reliable transmission system to send emergency messages to the public if an attack happens.
The study quoted military figures who warned that a Russia-based internet hack could shut down TV networks reliant on streaming or even allow the perpetrators to hijack stations and control broadcasts.
Ian Whittaker, the report’s author, said: “It’s a national security decision. Choosing 2044 is not kicking the can down the road. It is what the Government’s own analysis points to. And the broadcasters get a decade to make the move in an orderly way, rather than in a rush against a deadline.”
Impact on vulnerable viewers
Opponents of the 2034 plan also fear that switching off Freeview could cut off millions of elderly, rural and low-income viewers who would be required to sign up to broadband contracts, costing up to £300 a year, to watch TV that is currently free.
Although the number of homes reliant on Freeview is predicted to drop to below one million by 2034, around five million UK homes are still waiting for access to full fibre broadband.
Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy will make a decision on a digital terrestrial television switch-off later this year (Photo: Wiktor Szymanowicz/Getty)Akehurst said: “I fear with a rushed switch-off, the costs could be borne by those with the least. That’s why I’m urging the Government to protect free TV until at least 2044.”
However, supporters of the earlier switch-off said that Freely, the streamed free TV replacement for Freeview that offers around 70 channels including all BBC services, is expected to be in 10.5m households by 2034.
Freeview switch-off will deliver benefits
With new forecasts suggesting the number of UK homes without broadband in 2034 would drop to just 220,000, supporters believe there is a growing readiness among audiences for internet-only TV.
Natalie Ceeney, chair of the Connection Project representing broadcasters and connectivity providers, said: “Delaying until 2044 would not protect those most at risk of digital exclusion but leave them relying on a declining service for another decade, only to require them to switch anyway.”
Ceeney said that setting a 2034 timetable “creates an opportunity that goes far beyond television.”
Nationwide digital connectivity would also allow people greater control over how they manage other parts of their lives, such as health and money, proponents say.
More money for shows if 2034 switch-off
Viewers could benefit too, according to a report published last week by media analysts Oliver & Ohlbaum.
The analysis found that Britain’s public service broadcasters spend around £156m a year broadcasting Freeview through home aerials, at the same time as paying to deliver those same channels over the internet.
Switching off Freeview would therefore allow the BBC, ITV and others to spend more money on programmes.
But critics pointed to a significant outage suffered by Freely last week, leaving viewers unable to access most channels for more than 24 hours.
A Freely source said the outage was caused by an issue with third-party software and had nothing to do with the internet.
Maintaining Freeview meant viewers had a “reliable fall-back option for watching live TV”, media consultant Christy Swords said.
“Thankfully, this issue occurred in the dog-days of summer. A few weeks earlier and hundreds of thousands – maybe, even millions – of viewers could have lost access to England World Cup matches on ITV1. That would have taken some explaining.”
Burnham must be ‘bold’
On his Screen Power Substack, media analyst Giles Winn wrote: “Time is definitely running out if you want to have your say on how TV is transmitted into your home.
“Television is moving to the internet. The real argument is about how fast it happens, who pays, and whether our latest Prime Minister will be bold enough to tell millions of people he’s turning off their telly.”
Ministers will make a decision on the switch-over date later in the year.
A Government spokesman said: “The Government believes there is a strong case for a long-term transition to IPTV (streaming TV), but no decisions have been made. The purpose of the Media Green Paper is to gather views from across the sector and the public before any final decisions are taken.”
“Any future transition would only proceed once we are confident the right safeguards, infrastructure and support are in place so that everyone can continue to access television affordably, securely and with confidence.”
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