Research and analysis

Stakeholder Forum Papers: Infrastructure - Environmental impact in future of TV distribution

Published 23 June 2026

An independent paper from the Infrastructure Working Group of the Future of TV Distribution Stakeholder Forum, edited by Chair Richard Lindsay-Davies

Executive summary

The overall environmental performance of broadcast and IP systems (including TV sets) is likely to be broadly comparable by 2034, and the most effective sustainability outcome will come from a coordinated industry effort to improve the efficiency of each system through technology evolution rather than from the selection of one technology over another.

Key insights

• End-user devices dominate: Consumption by televisions, set-top boxes, and routers accounts for around 93 per cent of total energy use, with distribution contributing ≈ 6 per cent and media preparation ≈ 1 per cent.
• Marginal differences between DTT and IP overall by 2034: Both Ofcom and BBC models indicate that whilst differences in the distribution element may exist, overall operational energy demand is likely to be broadly equivalent between DTT and IP.
• Efficiency gains treated as neutral: Rebuilt DVB-T2 networks and upgraded IP systems are assumed to deliver similar efficiency improvements over time.
• Residual migration impact by 2034 may be limited in overall terms: By 2030 UK fixed line voice providers’ migration to full VoIP will mean that most households will already operate broadband routers which, whilst they may use more energy when a household fully moves to IP, the impact may not be significant. In addition, homes which are mobile-only and convert, will increase energy use, but these represent only 3 per cent of homes currently.

Context and scope

This paper has been prepared by the Future of TV Distribution Forum Infrastructure Working Group to inform government and industry consideration of the long-term environmental implications of UK television distribution. It examines the incremental energy and carbon impacts of sustaining Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) compared with transitioning to Internet Protocol (IP) delivery by 2034.

The analysis draws primarily on recent studies by Ofcom (Energy Consumption Associated with TV Distribution, July 2025) and the BBC (Revisiting the Energy Footprint of Broadcast and Streaming, September 2025), with additional input from Arqiva, BT, and other contributors. The Ofcom work models potential energy use under future distribution scenarios, while the BBC’s lifecycle model estimates the total energy footprint of video preparation, distribution, and consumption. These approaches differ methodologically but are consistent in outcome: both show that, given the dominance of the energy used by TV sets in both scenarios, the relative energy differences between DTT and IP delivery are modest and not likely to be material to future policy decisions.

The Working Group agreed that this paper should focus on operational energy rather than broader environmental issues such as materials, water use, or circular-economy effects. These wider aspects are excluded due to limited and inconsistent data. Accordingly, references to environmental impact in this paper relate specifically to operational energy use and associated emissions.

For comparability, the paper assumes that future rebuilt DVB-T2 DTT networks and planned IP distribution systems will achieve broadly equivalent efficiency improvements. It also recognises that energy-efficiency regulation of consumer equipment has already delivered significant improvements, particularly across televisions and set-top boxes, and that further reductions in energy use are expected regardless of distribution method.

It is assumed that connected televisions now entering the market will remain serviceable through any transition period, following the precedent set by the Digital Tick assurance during Digital Switchover.^{[footnote 1]} Market data indicate that annual UK television sales average around 5.8m units, and the average replacement cycle for TV is 6.3 years. On this basis, end-of-life impacts associated with television replacement are expected to be minimal within the timeframe considered.

By 2030, the UK’s fixed line voice providers will likely have migrated all landlines to full Voice over IP (VoIP), ensuring that the majority of UK households will already possess broadband routers capable of supporting IP television. According to Ofcom’s Technology Tracker 2025, 89% of individuals aged 16 and over have fixed broadband access, 1% use some form of fixed-wireless access (FWA), 3% are mobile-only (smartphone) users, 1% access the internet only outside the home (for example, at work or a library), and 3% have no internet access at all. (Note: These proportions do not sum precisely to 100% due to rounding and ‘don’t-know’ responses).

The data show that only a small minority of the UK population remains offline or reliant solely on mobile data. As digital-voice migration and 5G FWA coverage expand, the share of mobile-only and offline users is expected to fall further. Even if a residual 0.5 to 1% of households ultimately required a router solely for television use, the additional national energy impact would be small in the context of total system consumption.

The Working Group recognises that there is no single ‘ground truth’ in this domain. Both Ofcom and BBC analyses depend on reasonable but differing assumptions about technology evolution, audience behaviour, and network energy attribution. Each provides valid insights within its defined scope. Sensitivity analyses show that although specific assumptions can influence totals, these do not materially alter the overall conclusion: energy use is similar across both systems.

Accordingly, this paper provides a deliberately narrow assessment of incremental operational energy to support evidence-based policy discussion. Broader considerations – such as universality, accessibility, resilience, and affordability – remain central to decision-making on the UK’s future television distribution architecture.

Methodology and evidence base

Ofcom modelling

Ofcom’s 2025 internal analysis extended the earlier Carnstone (2021) methodology to model six scenarios for 2035, from maintaining full DTT operation to complete IP migration. The study calculated energy across transmission, data centres, CDNs, IP networks, and end-user devices, applying sensitivity tests for transmitter efficiency, amplifier use, and household migration rates.

BBC R&D modelling

BBC R&D’s White Paper 424 employed its lifecycle model covering preparation, distribution, and consumption (excluding production). The UK energy footprint of BBC video in 2024 was ≈ 907 GWh (±53 GWh), with 93% from viewing, 6% from distribution, and 1% from media preparation. Average hourly consumption was ~57 Wh/hour for broadcast and ~65.7 Wh/hour for streaming, with the gap projected to narrow as device and network efficiencies improve.

Arqiva and BT contributions

Arqiva provided data on transmitter energy and DVB-T2 upgrade impacts (≈ 40 to 44 % efficiency gains), treated as neutral since comparable gains are expected for IP networks. BT supplied evidence on its Public Digital Phone Line and VoIP migration, confirming full transition by 2030 and near-universal broadband router availability, further minimising incremental energy effects.

Findings and interpretation

Across Ofcom and BBC analyses, findings are directionally consistent: device energy dominates, and system-level differences are modest. Behavioural change, rather than technology choice, will determine overall sustainability outcomes.

Conclusion and recommendations

The evidence confirms that environmental efficiency, while important, is not decisive in determining the UK’s future television distribution model. There is scope under both DTT and IP to deliver efficiency improvements and this should be the focus under whichever model for the future of TV distribution is selected. We recommend a focus on continuing energy-efficiency improvements under both delivery models, enhancing data transparency, and extending lifecycle research.

Annex A: evidence sources

Bibliography and evidence references

Primary research sources

BBC Research & Development (2025) Revisiting the Energy Footprint of Broadcast and Streaming (WHP 424). Author: Mohit Arora, Sustainable Engineering Research Team, BBC R&D.
September 2025.

This paper presents the BBC’s lifecycle sustainability model for video preparation, distribution, and consumption, excluding production. It reports a 2024 UK video energy footprint of approximately 907 GWh (± 53 GWh), with 93% attributed to consumption, 6% to distribution, and 1% to preparation. It also compares the hourly energy footprints of traditional broadcast (≈ 57 Wh/hour) and streaming (≈ 65.7 Wh/hour), with the gap projected to narrow as device and network efficiencies improve amidst changes in audience behaviour.

Ofcom (2025) Energy Consumption Associated with TV Distribution: Illustrative Scenarios.
Internal Report completed July 2025.

This confidential analysis extends Ofcom’s 2021 Carnstone methodology to model six future distribution scenarios for 2035- from sustaining a full DTT network to a complete IP transition. The study evaluates transmitter power, viewer migration, amplifier usage, IP network energy, and data-centre efficiency. It concludes that while transmission energy can be reduced by up to 40 to 45% under a rebuilt DVB-T2 network It can also be reduced by around 30% for a full switchover (assuming overall consumption changes little). In either case around a 5% reduction overall could be achieved. Overall consumption changes little because viewing devices remain the dominant energy factor.

Supporting and methodological references from BBC WHP 424

1. Arora, M., & McClenaghan, I. (2024). Decarbonising Media, Broadcast and Streaming Industry. Joule 8 (4), 873 to 878. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.joule.2024.03.003.
2. Chandaria, J., Hunter, J., & Williams, A. (2011). A Comparison of a Carbon Footprint of Digital Terrestrial Television with Video on Demand. BBC White Paper 189.
3. Chandaria, J. (2011). The Carbon Footprint of Watching Television. BBC R\&D Blog.
4. Chandaria, J. (2015). From Lens to Screen: An Industry Collaboration for Sustainability. BBC R&D Blog.
5. DIMPACT (2022). Methodology: Estimating the Carbon Impacts of Serving Digital Media and Entertainment Products.
6. Ofcom (2024). Carbon Emissions of Streaming and Digital Terrestrial Television.
7. Carbon Trust (2021). Carbon Impact of Video Streaming.
8. Arora, M., McClenaghan, I., & Wozniak, L. (2024). Priorities for Net-Zero Web Services. Nature Electronics 7, 622–625. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41928-024-01227-8
9. Ofcom (2023). Media Nations 2023.
10. Ofcom (2025). Adults’ Media Use and Attitudes Report.

Supplementary industry evidence (as cited in this paper)

• Arqiva (2025). Transmitter Energy and DVB-T2 Upgrade Data – internal submission to the DCMS Future of TV Distribution Forum Infrastructure Working Group, June 2025.

• BT (2025). Public Digital Phone Line and VoIP Migration Programme Evidence Note. BT Group submission to DCMS Infrastructure Working Group (June 2025).

• 3 Reasons (2024). Forecast TV Viewing and Household Adoption Figures for 2035. Prepared for Ofcom Future of TV Distribution Report.

• SLR Consulting (2025). Advisory Methodology for Energy Modelling and Scenario Analysis on Future TV Distribution Systems. Commissioned by Ofcom.

Summary of evidence hierarchy

Evidence Level	Source/Study	Relevance to Comparative Assessment
Gold-standard	BBC R\&D WHP 424 (2025); Ofcom (2025) Energy Consumption Report	Methodology developed on primary peer-reviewed and regulatory research quantifying UK TV distribution energy footprints.
Silver-standard	Carbon Trust (2021); DIMPACT (2022); Ofcom (2024)	Industry-validated methodological foundations.
Bronze-standard	Arqiva (2025); BT (2025); 3 Reasons (2024)	Scenario data, operational assumptions, and network forecasts.

1. GfK Newron Consumer, Q3 2024 to Q2 2025, TV Purchasers ↩