A new survey has found that 9 in 10 people in the UK want to see continued support for Digital Terrestrial TV and Broadcast Radio.
More than 8 in 10 believe Government or local MPs should actively support the provision of such services to ensure universality to the elderly, less well-off and those in rural areas.
The survey, conducted by Ipsos on behalf of Arqiva comes at the launch of the Broadcast 2040+ campaign, launched by the transmission company alongside Age UK, Silver Voices, the Rural Services Network and the Voice of the Listener & Viewer to secure a commitment from Government on the future of broadcast.
Next week the withdrawal of the Com 7 service will see the removal of BBC News HD from terrestrial TV – the standard definition version will continue – and the closure of archive channel Forces TV. Other broadcasters are being relocated capacity elsewhere on the Freeview platform.
It was also recently announced that BBC Four , CBBC and Radio 4 Extra will be moved online only.
Shuja Khan, Arqiva’s newly appointed Chief Executive Officer said: “Whether it’s having the radio on over breakfast or watching the news during major global events, TV and radio binds us together as families and communities.
“This national asset cannot be taken for granted and I’m proud of the difference broadcast services make to the lives of people up and down the country.”
The Ipsos research shows that over half of adults in Great Britain have watched Freeview in the past year (56%), with 43% watching it at home every week. Around 40 million people aged 15 and over tune into radio each week according to RAJAR, with the majority listening through DAB or AM/FM.
The campaign aims to secure a commitment from Government that DTT and broadcast radio will be safeguarded to 2040 and beyond. At present there is only a commitment to 2030.
