Morning, Tuesday, 24th November 2026
Online
This conference will examine the future for television distribution in the UK, as the Government considers the timetable and delivery of a managed transition from digital terrestrial television to internet-based services.
Areas for discussion include transition planning and infrastructure, audience access and digital inclusion, public service media prominence and accessibility, spectrum and network resilience, platform regulation and competition, and commercial sustainability.
It will bring stakeholders and policymakers together to consider next steps following publication of the Watch this space: a new strategic direction for UK media green paper in June 2026, which sets out proposals for a managed transition from DTT to internet-based TV, with potential switch-off in either 2034 or 2044. Delegates will draw on evidence and options developed through the Government’s Future of TV Distribution Stakeholder Forum, with discussion on technical, operational, and consumer experience requirements for transition, including preparedness across the broadcasting sector, infrastructure, and audience readiness.
Practicalities, service continuity & capacity
The agenda will examine key issues moving forward, including implications of approaches to transition timelines and delivery models for viewers, broadcasters, platform providers and network operators.
Next steps for continuity and reliability of service will be discussed, considering what is needed to support households less able to move to IPTV, the costs and practicalities of maintaining parallel distribution systems, the evidence-base needed to inform decisions on timing and implementation.
Delegates will also explore broadband capacity and resilience, spectrum decisions, the scope for transitional or hybrid provision, and the future of DTT licensing beyond 2034.
Accessibility & prominence
Sessions will assess approaches to maintaining access to television services and a straightforward user experience for all audiences during the transition, including older and disabled viewers, and households with limited connectivity or digital literacy - drawing on the Digital Inclusion Action Plan and its One Year On priorities. Areas for discussion include the roles of broadcasters, platform operators, hardware manufacturers, streaming services and video-sharing platforms, and other delivery partners in accessibility measures, interface design and audience support as television distribution and viewing habits evolve.
Themes emerging from responses to Ofcom’s consultation on its draft code of practice on Prominence and accessibility on connected TV platforms will be discussed, alongside implementation of the Media Act 2024 prominence and accessibility regime for connected TV platforms, including wider questions around the discoverability and prominence of PSM content on video-sharing and other online platforms. This includes how regulation might support appropriate prominence of public service content while allowing scope for innovation and competition across platforms and services.
Platform design, competition & commercial sustainability
Discussion will consider implications of greater platform control over how audiences find and access television, including the role of interfaces, electronic programme guides, recommendation and discovery systems, and the commercial relationships between broadcasters and platform operators.
The agenda will also examine the economic and operational implications of the shift towards IP distribution, including the costs of maintaining DTT alongside growing online distribution, investment in broadcaster digital services and infrastructure, and implications for advertising, content funding and commercial sustainability across the television market.
Overview of areas for discussion
- policy:
- proposals in the Watch this space strategic direction for the future of TV distribution - options for DTT switch-off in 2034 or 2044
- managed transition from DTT to IPTV - evidence and decision-making on timing and implementation
- regulatory development: frameworks for accommodating online distribution - fair competition between broadcasters, streaming services and platforms - public service obligations during and beyond transition
- distribution models: delivery and sequencing of the shift to online television - transitional or hybrid provision - consumer readiness - implications for PSM obligations
- spectrum: implications of increased online viewing for spectrum allocation - evidence on the value and alternative uses of DTT spectrum - future of the UHF band
- cost and risks: financial and one‑off costs of transition - implications of maintaining parallel distribution systems - household exclusion and barriers to IPTV adoption
- broadcaster constraints: investment in digital players and online distribution - revenue pressures as audiences move away from DTT - costs of maintaining services across multiple platforms
- broadband: capacity pressures from widespread IPTV adoption - network resilience and reliability - investment requirements and preparedness for increased demand
- cross‑sector impact: implications for adjacent industries and services - potential impacts on local television and news - considerations for radio, audio and other services using related infrastructure
- accessibility and usability: alignment of online services with audience needs - accessibility and inclusivity - practical implementation of simpler interfaces - responsibilities for platform and service developers
- digital inclusion:
- collaborative approaches to supporting households and individuals - affordability, connectivity, devices and digital skills - local support and broadcaster involvement
- alignment with the Government’s Digital Inclusion Action Plan and its first-year priorities
All delegates will be able to contribute to the output of the conference, which will be shared with parliamentary, ministerial, departmental and regulatory offices, and more widely. This includes the full proceedings and additional articles submitted by delegates. As well as key stakeholders, those already due to attend include officials from the Department for Business and Trade; Department of Culture, Communications and Sport, ROI; Ofcom; and the Welsh Government.
