Press Release from Arqiva about 2040+ campaign:

Broadcast TV and radio – content delivered through an aerial into people’s homes – is part of the fabric of our national life. Watching and listening to our favourite shows together is something that binds us as families, as communities, and as a country. For all the new ways of watching content like streaming, broadcast services remain the backbone for many.

Currently, there is only certainty of provision for TV and radio through an aerial until the early 2030s. There are a series of upcoming decisions on the long-term future of broadcast services. The first of these will be taking place at the World Radiocommunication Conference (WRC) next year, where countries will decide how much spectrum – radio frequencies used for broadcasting – should be allocated to TV and radio, and how much should be given to other technologies like mobile services.

Decisions at previous WRCs have already led to a reduction in the amount of spectrum allocated to digital terrestrial TV, with more and more services squeezed into fewer and fewer frequency bands.

Importance of Terrestrial TV and Radio

• New data from Ipsos shows that 9 in 10 people 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 continued provision of these services. A similar proportion believe the BBC should be doing so
• Older people, lonely, less well-off and those in rural areas are most reliant on Freeview and radio services – which are universally accessible

For millions of people across the UK, universally available broadcast TV and radio services play a crucial role in their daily lives. Freeview is watched on around 35 million TV sets in the UK. Recent 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, with the majority listening through DAB or AM/FM.

Ipsos research highlights that services received through an aerial are particularly important for vulnerable groups, including older people who may lack the digital skills and confidence to use streaming apps, and people living in rural areas where the lack of, or aged, network infrastructure means they are less likely to have a superfast broadband connection.

People struggling with the cost of living also depend on Freeview. Rising prices have led households to cut back on TV streaming services as people look for ways to save money, with more than half a million subscriptions cancelled for this reason in the first three months of 2022.

Research also shows the significant negative impact of the potential loss of broadcast TV and radio, particularly for those who are vulnerable. A quarter of people (25%) said that they would be “very lonely” if they lost their Freeview services, rising to more than 2 in 5 (44%) of those who are 65 and older and living alone.

Campaign Partners
The Broadcast 2040+ campaign is being led by Arqiva the national infrastructure provider which operates at the heart of the UK’s broadcast industry; helping transmit Digital Terrestrial Television (Freeview) and radio into people’s homes. Campaign partners include:  Age UK, Silver Voices, the Rural Services Network and the Voice of the Listener & Viewer

Campaign Aim
The campaign aims to secure a commitment from Government that DTT and broadcast radio will be safeguarded to 2040 and beyond.

Progress
The campaign is already reaching the people who can make a difference. There have been meetings with several influential MPs, advisors, and peers to discuss the campaign, and they have been made aware of how vital broadcast content is for viewers and listeners.

The campaign secured national coverage in the Daily Express  (‘Don’t let streaming services force out ‘free’ TV and radio’), and the Sun (‘Public Back TV Support’) and in the Times (‘Millions still rely on traditional TV and radio — we can’t ignore them’).

It’s also making a splash throughout the TV and radio industry.

Radio World, Radio Today, Advanced Television and Informativ have covered the campaign have covered the campaign. Laurie Patten, Director of Strategy and Regulation at Arqiva, also spoke about launch of the campaign at the Westminster Media Forum.

For more information on Broadcast 2040+, the press release and the new Ipsos research showing how much the public values digital terrestrial TV and radio see the link below.

Graham Biggs MBE, Chief Executive of The Rural Services Network, said:

“Government often states a policy that no-one should be disadvantaged by where they live. The whole of the Government’s Levelling Up agenda can be argued to be based on this premise. So, this issue of safeguarding terrestrial TV and radio is of fundamental importance to rural areas where the population is much older than the national average and the least well served by broadband connectivity. We strongly support the Broadcast 2040+ campaign”

How you can help
Email wrc-23.respond@ofcom.org.uk stating your name/organisation and why terrestrial TV and radio is important to you and why it should be protected beyond 2040.  Please feel free to use the data in this document to illustrate your case.

If you have any questions or are interested in joining the campaign, then please get in touch at fmarking@strandpartners.com

Further Reading
www.arqiva.com/Importance_of_Broadcast.pdf
“Protect traditional TV & radio” say the British people as Broadcast 2040+ campaign launches (arqiva.com)