We’re pleased to announce that the Rural Services Network is actively participating in the newly established advisory forum on the future of UK television, led by Media Minister Stephanie Peacock. This forum will play a crucial role in ensuring that the voices of rural communities are heard as the country transitions towards more online TV broadcasting.

Our involvement aims to protect access to high-quality British television content for all rural viewers, especially those who may face challenges with internet connectivity. We are committed to advocating for policies that address the unique needs of rural households, including maintaining affordable options and supporting digital inclusion. This initiative is a key step in promoting a television ecosystem that serves everyone, regardless of where they live.

The government is to scrutinise the future of linear TV broadcasting, as new research published last week shows that some viewers could be excluded from the general shift towards online viewership.

Senior representatives from Ofcom, TV broadcasters, infrastructure operators and organisations representing audiences will form a new working group, convened by Media Minister Stephanie Peacock MP. It will consider how all viewers, including older people and those without internet connectivity on their TV, can continue to access world-class British content as consumer habits continue to change.

The group will consult with key stakeholders on how changing viewing habits and the rise in audiences watching shows over the internet will impact the future of TV broadcasting. It will have a particular focus on the pressure this puts on delivering traditional broadcast television in a cost effective way. 

The core aims of the group will be to ensure that no one is left behind amid a shift towards online viewing, and to establish a sustainable television ecosystem that works for both audiences and the industry. The forum is due to meet quarterly, starting later this month.

Gill Hind, COO and director of TV at Enders Analysis, Richard Lindsay-Davies, CEO of research and technology organisation Digital TV Group, and DCMS College of Experts academic Catherine Johnson will chair three smaller working groups supporting the forum, representing the TV sector, infrastructure and audience groups. These groups will meet separately to gather evidence and drive forward policy development ahead of the larger forum discussions. 

Media Minister Stephanie Peacock said:

Streaming has revolutionised the television industry. Viewers have never had more choice over what to watch and how to access content.

As the shift towards streaming and watching live broadcasting online continues, it is vital that no one is left behind. I want to ensure that as many people as possible can watch TV in a way that suits them.

This new forum, bringing together the major players in the TV industry and audience groups, will help deliver a long-term plan that ensures everyone in society can access world-class British content in the decades to come.

As part of this work, the department published the findings of a research report commissioned in September 2023, led by Exeter University and a group of independent researchers. The project looked at the UK’s current television delivery and consumption trends, examining how they are likely to change in the coming decade, if no government intervention is taken. 

Based on current trends, the report predicts that 95% of households will have the capacity to watch TV over the internet by 2040. However, 5% of households, or 1.5 million people, will still rely on traditional linear broadcasting by the same year, without intervention. 

This ‘unconnected’ group tends to be significantly older, have a lower socioeconomic status and live in rural communities. The cost of broadband and lack of digital skills are factors in preventing households from adopting Internet Protocol Television (IPTV) or programmes delivered via the internet.