Scottish charity joins Broadcast 2040+ campaign
July 17, 2026



A Scottish charity representing people with light and screen sensitivity has warned that disabled people could be left without accessible television if the UK Government moves towards internet-only services.

LightAware, based in Linlithgow, West Lothian, has joined the Broadcast 2040+ campaign, which is calling for the long-term future of free-to-air broadcast TV to be protected.


The charity is the UK’s only organisation representing people affected by light and screen sensitivity. Its members include people living with migraine, autism, epilepsy, ME, lupus, mast cell activation syndrome and other neurological and skin disorders.

LightAware joined the campaign after members raised concerns that the possible loss of terrestrial TV could leave them dependent on technologies they cannot physically use.

The UK Government is reviewing the future of TV distribution, with the current licences supporting terrestrial television due to expire in 2034. Any decision taken at Westminster would affect viewers across Scotland and the rest of the UK.

A move to internet-only TV could require millions of households to rely on high-speed broadband, smart TVs and internet-connected devices. For many viewers, this could mean new costs, new equipment and greater dependence on services that are less reliable, less familiar or harder to use.

For people with light and screen sensitivity, the issue is not simply digital exclusion. Many already rely on older non-LED equipment to watch television or go online. Some cannot tolerate modern LED screens, while others also experience sensitivity to electromagnetic fields, leaving them unable to use broadband routers in the home.

LightAware warns that without terrestrial TV, some people could lose access to news, information, entertainment and companionship. The charity says these access barriers result from health conditions and cannot be solved through digital training, support or greater confidence using technology.

Broadcast 2040+ is calling for free, universal broadcast TV to be protected so audiences are not forced into an internet-only model.

The Government review is being overseen by Edinburgh South MP and former Scottish Secretary Ian Murray, now Minister of State jointly in the Department for Culture, Media and Sport and the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology. LightAware is calling for the Minister to hear directly from people affected by light and screen sensitivity before any long-term decisions are made.

LightAware becomes the latest organisation to join the Broadcast 2040+ coalition, whose members include Age UK, the Digital Poverty Alliance, Silver Voices, the Rural Services Network, the Voice of the Listener and Viewer, and Arqiva.

Dr John Lincoln, Trustee and Treasurer of LightAware, commented: “LightAware is pleased to join the Broadcast 2040+ campaign and lend our voices to an issue that matters directly to the people we represent. Many light-sensitive people are already relying on older non-LED equipment to watch television, access information, and remain connected to the wider world. A move towards internet-only TV risks leaving some people facing barriers that simply cannot be solved through digital training or support. For people who are ill, disabled, or isolated, television is not just entertainment. They can be a source of news, companionship, and connection. The needs of people with light and screen sensitivity must be properly considered as decisions are made about the future of broadcasting. This decision will affect viewers in Scotland, but it will be made by the UK Government. We want Ian Murray to hear directly from people whose access to television could be put at risk.”

A representative of the Broadcast 2040+ campaign, added: “LightAware brings an important and distinctive perspective to the Broadcast 2040+ coalition. Their work highlights that the future of television distribution is not only about broadband coverage or digital skills, but also about accessibility, and ensuring a TV system that works for everyone. Free-to-air terrestrial television continue to serves audiences across the UK, including people who may struggle to access internet-based services. Ministers should commit to extend terrestrial TV to the mid-2040s.”