An online petition calling on the UK Government to “guarantee access to broadcast TV and aerial radio beyond 2040” has passed the 10,000 signature threshold and is due an official response. The petition argues that protecting Freeview will “prevent millions of older people and other vulnerable groups, at risk of loneliness and depression, from being excluded from public information and entertainment”.
Digital terrestrial television (DTT), more commonly known as Freeview, is universally available across the UK and, according to BARB research in 2020, regularly watched on around 35 millions TV sets. It does not need a superfast broadband connection and there is no additional monthly subscription cost, however, aerial signals are only guaranteed until the early 2040s.
The ‘Broadcast 2040+ campaign’ to safeguard digital terrestrial TV and radio launched last summer following new research by Ipsos which showed that nine in 10 people (90%) across Great Britain want to see continued support for these services.
Dennis Reed, Director of UK-wide over-60s campaign group Silver Voices, created and posted the petition on the official petitions-parliament website where it has now received more than 10,437 signatures of support.
The petition states: ‘The Government must guarantee access to Freeview and aerial radio beyond 2040. Unless the Government takes such action ahead of the World Radiocommunication Conference in November 2023 the spectrum of frequency allocated to Digital Terrestrial TV (Freeview) may be lost and the services disbanded.
“Millions rely on Freeview/broadcast TV and radio to keep in touch with society. Silver Voices, which advocates for the over 60s, argues that internet-based services are less reliable and much more costly.
“Poorer households are already cancelling streaming services because of the cost of living crisis.”
The petition is open until July 12, 2023 and would be considered for debate by MPs in Parliament if it reaches 100,000 signatures of support.
You can view the full proposal online here.
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