Petition launched calling on the Government to protect terrestrial television

The Rural Services Network and Silver Voices are both members of the Broadcast 2040+ campaign: a broad coalition of organisations working to ensure that free-to-air terrestrial television - service received through an aerial commonly known as Freeview - remains available beyond 2034 when current licences expire, and into the 2040s.

The Rural Services Network recently took part in a forum, run by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport, alongside other coalition members to share our views on the future of TV distribution.

The government is currently considering whether to renew these licences. Terrestrial TV is vital for protecting universal access to television, offering an affordable service even for those without fast and affordable internet connections.

Silver Voices has launched a new public petition calling on the Government to commit to protecting terrestrial television for the long term. The petition reflects concerns that many organisations and communities have raised: that a rush towards internet-only TV risks leaving millions of people behind and ending a popular service.

The timing is critical. The BBC Charter Review consultation is now under way, and decisions about the future of public service broadcasting – including how audiences will access it – are starting to take shape. This is a key moment for viewers to make clear that broadcast TV still matters. For many people, terrestrial TV is not simply one option among many. It is the most reliable, affordable and accessible way to stay informed, entertained and connected to the wider world.

This is particularly true in rural and island communities. Life in these areas already comes with challenges that are often overlooked in national debates. While online services play an important role, they are not always dependable and for some households, they remain out of reach altogether. Terrestrial television works regardless of broadband speed, data allowances or household income. It reaches homes in remote and challenging locations and continues to function during periods of disruption. For many rural households, terrestrial TV and radio are the only services they can rely on day in, day out.

There is also a wider social impact to consider. Television plays an important role in helping people feel connected, particularly older people and those living alone. Removing access to free-to-air TV risks increasing isolation and widening existing inequalities, at a time when many households are already under financial pressure.

Signing the petition is a simple but powerful action. It sends a clear message to Government and to those shaping the future of broadcasting: that any long-term vision for TV must protect choice, resilience and universal access, and must not assume that everyone is ready or able to move online.

At a time when the future of television is being actively debated, sharing the petition with friends, family and networks helps ensure that the voices of those who rely on terrestrial television are factored into these decisions about the years ahead.

You can read more and sign the petition here