Older television viewers will not be ‘left behind’ by shift to streaming, Culture Secretary promises

• Lucy Frazer says streaming should not be at the expense of traditional channels

Terrestrial TV viewers will be not be ‘left behind’ by the shift to streaming, the Culture Secretary will promise in a speech today.

Lucy Frazer will insist ‘new ways’ of watching television should ‘not come at the expense’ of those who still enjoy the traditional channels.

She will tell the Royal Television Society Cambridge Convention: ‘We want terrestrial television to remain accessible for the foreseeable future.’

Her comments come after the BBC’s director-general sent alarm bells ringing at the end of last year, when he appeared to suggest the corporation could turn off all of its terrestrial radio and TV services within the next decade.

Tim Davie, who has subsequently seemed to play down these earlier comments, had said a ‘switch off of broadcast will and should happen’ and the corporation should be ‘active in planning for it’.

Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer (pictured) will insist ‘new ways’ of watching television should ‘not come at the expense’ of those who still enjoy the traditional channels

Her comments come after the BBC’s director-general Tim Davie (pictured) sent alarm bells ringing at the end of last year, when he appeared to suggest the corporation could turn off all of its terrestrial radio and TV services within the next decade

Ms Frazer, who has been in post since February, will say today: ‘As we focus on the future, our attention must also be on making sure people are not left behind. This Government wants to encourage the sector to keep embracing innovation and technological development.

‘But we’re not going to pull the rug from under the devoted audiences of Freeview channels.’ During her speech, the Culture Secretary will announce a research and engagement programme ‘looking at the future of TV in the UK’.

This will help inform the decision whether to lengthen the current commitment to keep Freeview on air until at least 2034.

There are expected to be further announcements about the future of TV in the speech.

A survey by media regulator Ofcom last year highlighted the generation gap when it comes to TV viewing habits. It found that 90 per cent of 18-24-year-olds bypass TV channels and head straight to streaming, on-demand and social video services.

However, 60 per cent of 55-64-year-olds and 76 per cent of those aged 65 and over still turn to live TV channels first.

Source: Read Full Article