The uptake of high-speed broadband is only set to increase by 10% between 2022 and 2040.

And that assumes you’ll have the right broadband connection available to you. Where you live could also determine whether you’re able to watch BBC, ITV, Channel 4, and GB News over online-only services. The areas of the UK where homes are most likely to be without a high-speed connection by 2040 are Northern Ireland (24% of all homes), North East England (21%), Yorkshire and the Humber (20%), North West England (19%), Scotland (19%) and Wales (19%), the report forecasts.

The Broadcast 2040+ campaign, which brings together over 30 organisations, including the Digital Poverty Alliance and Rural Services Network, has issued a statement arguing the data in the report demonstrates the UK Government must act now to safeguard broadcast TV and radio beyond 2040.

CEO of the Digital Poverty Alliance and member of the Broadcast 2040+ coalition, Elizabeth Anderson said: “The Broadcast 2040+ campaign’s mission to safeguard the future of broadcast TV and radio is critical to helping bridge the digital divide that the UK faces. As today’s report makes clear, unless we protect these platforms, we risk putting 5.5 million households at greater risk of digital exclusion and the harms that this will cause. The Government must take urgent and decisive action to ensure vulnerable people across the nation are protected and no one is left behind.”

​The final barrier that could leave millions unable to watch television is cost.

Aside from the BBC licence fee, there’s no cost when tuning into linear TV channels using an aerial. Likewise, if you have a satellite dish, Freesat lets you watch dozens of free-to-air channels at no cost.

That’s not the case when the primary delivery method for live television is broadband. Ofcom figures show that roughly one in ten households — that’s 2.4 million across the UK ― find it difficult to afford their current broadband subscription.

Dr Michelle Cooper MBE. Chief Executive of County Durham Community Foundation said: “This report is worrying, and the fact that the North Eastis predicted to have the lowest take-up of broadband in 2040 of all the English regions is even more concerning.

“We just can’t afford to be left behind. More needs to be done to bridge the digital divide and this is not just an issue of internet access; it’s about ensuring inclusivity, equal opportunities for all, and ensuring no one is unplugged from education and society.

“It’s clearer than ever that traditional broadcast TV and radio will continue to play a vital role in this for many years to come, and extension of protection for these services beyond 2034 is required.”

Digital Terrestrial Television, or DTT, better known under its brand name “Freeview’” became the universal way to watch free-to-air television channels nationwide following the digital switchover, which ran between 2007 and 2012. Every major public service channel is delivered over a sprawling network of 1,100 transmitters, including relays, that reach around 98% of households.

For those who are unable to access television via Freeview, satellite broadcasts like Sky TV and Freesat offer an alternative way to watch free-to-air channels.

Earlier this month, Everyone TV — the company behind Freeview and Freely — revealed an early look at Freely, which will launch in the coming months as a way to watch live free-to-air channels over a broadband connection.

Several popular TV manufacturers, including Hisense, have already confirmed a partnership with Everyone TV to use Freely as the default way to watch on the flatscreen TVs coming to shop shelves later this year.

Since it relies on an internet connection, Freely will let viewers switch between live and on-demand television from broadcasters including the BBC, ITV, Channel 4, and Channel 5. Everything is streamed to your Smart TV or set-top box, so you’ll be able to pause and rewind live television channels — just like Sky. However, with so much high-quality video content set to be pushed through a wireless or wired internet connection, you’ll need a decent download speed.

Everyone TV hasn’t yet revealed the minimum speed requirements for Freely.

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Freely is part of a growing trend towards internet-powered telly. EE TV launched in early December, bringing Freeview channels via broadband to an EE TV Box Pro or Apple TV 4K. You can pause and rewind live television for up to two hours and add Sky TV channels via a NOW membership.