Andy Burnham under mounting pressure from MPs to postpone plans to switch off access to free-to-air aerial television

Published: 23:36, 25 July 2026 | Updated: 23:39, 25 July 2026 Andy Burnham is under mounting pressure from both Labour and Tories to postpone plans to switch off access to free-to-air television. A cross-party group of MPs is urging Ministers to abandon a potential 2034 deadline to move to internet-only access to TV channels and instead opt for a 2044 switch-over. The plea comes amid warnings that a premature change-over would potentially deprive five million households of the current ‘Freeview’ terrestrial television access and force them to take out expensive broadband subscriptions. In a letter to Digital Secretary Lisa Nandy, the MPs said: ‘The people who depend on the aerial on the roof are many of the most vulnerable: older people and families on tight budgets, people with disabilities, rural, coastal and island communities across the UK, along with the many homes with no reliable or affordable broadband. ‘For them, terrestrial television is how they follow the news, watch sport, and stay part of national life.’ The MPs appeal came amid warnings that in 120 ‘battleground’ parliamentary seats, the public was barely aware that the terrestrial TV switch-off was coming. The poll, commissioned by the Broadcast 2040+ campaign, revealed that 69 per cent of people had ‘heard nothing at all’ about the change-over or had heard ‘just a little’. Nearly two-thirds of respondents (62 per cent) believed that making TV available only online would mean that it only reached those with the money, confidence and the internet connection to get it. Andy Burnham is under mounting pressure from both Labour and Tories to postpone plans to switch off access to free-to-air television A cross-party group of MPs urged Digital Secretary Lisa Nandy, pictured, to abandon a potential 2034 deadline to move to internet-only access to TV channels and instead opt for a 2044 switch-over And 71 per cent agreed that ‘how I watch TV is my choice, not the Government’s’. Senior Labour MP Sarah Champion said last night: ‘Protecting free TV for as long as possible is the right way forward - it avoids landing constituents, like my own in Rotherham, with an unwelcome bill when we should be laser focused on the cost of living. ‘I hope that under Andy Burnham's leadership, taking the pressure off constituents will extend to making the right decision and not rushing the terrestrial television switch off in 2034.’ Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey warned that a ‘rushed switch’ to internet-only TV would risk locking millions of older and vulnerable people for whom ‘Freeview is a lifeline that keeps them connected to the world’. He added: ‘The Government must stand up for these people and commit to keeping Freeview until 2044.’ Last week, Ms Nandy raised hopes that the switch-over could be postponed after admitting that doing it in 2034 would be challenging. In a statement last night, a Government spokesperson stressed that ‘no decisions have been made’, adding that it was gathering views ‘from across the sector and the public before any final decisions are taken’. But stressing that Ministers were committed to ensuring that ‘no-one is left behind’ by the move, she added: ‘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 and with confidence.’