The BBC is headed towards an online-only future. We should all be grateful

The BBC is moving toward an online-only future, with streaming replacing over-the-air broadcasting over the next decade, as broadcasters prepare for DTT shutdown plans. The argument is driven by financial pressure: the BBC’s cash reserves fell 66% in the last financial year, from £369m to £125m, and the real value of the licence fee is down £1.3bn since 2017. It’s seeking cuts of £500m, and an insider told The i Paper that keeping traditional broadcasts until 2045 could cost public broadcasters £1bn. The piece notes older viewers may be left behind, citing that one-fifth of those over 65 in the UK use the internet less than monthly.