05 Aug 2026
The Government has published its Media Green Paper, launching a public consultation that will determine the future of free-to-air television, commonly known as Freeview.
For the first time, ministers are openly considering whether Freeview television should be switched off when current broadcasting licences expire in 2034 or retained until 2044.
The Rural Services Network, alongside 38 other organisations through the Broadcast 2040+ coalition, is urging the Government to choose the lower-risk option and guarantee the future of free-to-air television until 2044.
This decision will have profound implications for rural communities, many of which still depend on television delivered through an aerial rather than a broadband connection. We are calling on all members to respond to the consultation and indicate their support for the 2044 option.
This is not simply a debate about how people watch television. It is about fairness, inclusion and ensuring that rural communities are not left behind.
For millions of households, Freeview remains the primary way they access television. It is free, reliable and available without the need for a high-speed broadband connection. Yet many rural areas continue to experience poor connectivity, limited broadband choice and higher costs. Moving television entirely online before the country is ready would risk creating a significant new digital divide.
The Government’s own Green Paper identifies extending terrestrial television to 2044 as the lower-risk option. It would give more time for broadband infrastructure to improve, reduce the risk of exclusion and allow households to move online when they are ready.
Rural communities have heard promises about digital connectivity for years, yet significant gaps remain. It would be wrong to withdraw a universal service before a genuinely universal alternative exists.
The Broadcast 2040+ coalition supports better digital connectivity and the transition to online services. But the solution to digital exclusion is to improve broadband coverage and affordability – not to switch off a service that millions of people will continue to rely on over the next 20 years.
The consultation closes on 31 August. We urge all RSN members to support the 2044 option and help ensure rural communities are not left behind.
