Asked by: Baroness Hoey (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask His Majesty's Government when they plan to make a decision about the long-term future of digital terrestrial television beyond 2034.
Answered by Baroness Twycross - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The Government has an ongoing project on the future of TV distribution that is seeking to understand how people receive their television now and in the next decade. This will include assessing the advantages of hybrid television distribution models, as well as other options such as IPTV transition.
As part of this project, the Government published independent research led by Exeter University last year that included data on the use of different distribution methods by a range of different demographic groups, which included rural communities. A wide range of views are being sought from across the TV sector, audience groups and infrastructure through the Stakeholder Forum.
This includes a number of groups representing rural and UK-wide audiences, such as the Rural Services Network.
With regards to vulnerable groups, the Government has now published qualitative research that was commissioned to understand in more detail the specific preferences, motivations and barriers regarding TV viewing among groups who are currently unconnected. This research included groups who could be vulnerable. Affordability is a factor that is in scope of the Stakeholder Forum, which includes members with specific expertise on this issue; such as the Digital Poverty Alliance.
The future of DTT is secured in legislation until at least 2034. Before any decision is made in relation to the availability of services beyond this point, close consideration will be given to how any changes would impact audiences, and especially those who rely on digital terrestrial television as their primary means of watching television. The government stakeholder forum will conclude later this year and then the government will make a decision.
Asked by: Baroness Hoey (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the long-term future of digital terrestrial television, in particular the national resilience value of a commercially viable broadcast network.
Answered by Baroness Twycross - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The Government understands how important it is that everyone can access information in times of national emergency. Television and radio both play an important role in providing such access in a range of different emergency scenarios, including scenarios where other communications may be disrupted.
The BBC has specific requirements under its Framework Agreement in relation to broadcast security and resilience, and works closely with DCMS in ensuring its networks are able to support emergency communications.
The Government’s project looking into the future of TV distribution is considering a range of relevant factors, including the future resilience requirements for broadcast networks.
Asked by: Baroness Hoey (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the contribution of digital terrestrial television to critical national infrastructure.
Answered by Baroness Twycross - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The Government understands how important it is that everyone can access information in times of national emergency. Television and radio both play an important role in providing such access in a range of different emergency scenarios, including scenarios where other communications may be disrupted.
The BBC has specific requirements under its Framework Agreement in relation to broadcast security and resilience, and works closely with DCMS in ensuring its networks are able to support emergency communications.
The Government’s project looking into the future of TV distribution is considering a range of relevant factors, including the future resilience requirements for broadcast networks.
Asked by: Baroness Hoey (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they have made an assessment of the financial impact on vulnerable groups of the costs of moving from terrestrial television broadcasts to internet protocol television.
Answered by Baroness Twycross - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The Government has an ongoing project on the future of TV distribution that is seeking to understand how people receive their television now and in the next decade. This will include assessing the advantages of hybrid television distribution models, as well as other options such as IPTV transition.
As part of this project, the Government published independent research led by Exeter University last year that included data on the use of different distribution methods by a range of different demographic groups, which included rural communities. A wide range of views are being sought from across the TV sector, audience groups and infrastructure through the Stakeholder Forum.
This includes a number of groups representing rural and UK-wide audiences, such as the Rural Services Network.
With regards to vulnerable groups, the Government has now published qualitative research that was commissioned to understand in more detail the specific preferences, motivations and barriers regarding TV viewing among groups who are currently unconnected. This research included groups who could be vulnerable. Affordability is a factor that is in scope of the Stakeholder Forum, which includes members with specific expertise on this issue; such as the Digital Poverty Alliance.
The future of DTT is secured in legislation until at least 2034. Before any decision is made in relation to the availability of services beyond this point, close consideration will be given to how any changes would impact audiences, and especially those who rely on digital terrestrial television as their primary means of watching television. The government stakeholder forum will conclude later this year and then the government will make a decision.
Asked by: Baroness Hoey (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the value of digital terrestrial television to rural connectivity.
Answered by Baroness Twycross - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The Government has an ongoing project on the future of TV distribution that is seeking to understand how people receive their television now and in the next decade. This will include assessing the advantages of hybrid television distribution models, as well as other options such as IPTV transition.
As part of this project, the Government published independent research led by Exeter University last year that included data on the use of different distribution methods by a range of different demographic groups, which included rural communities. A wide range of views are being sought from across the TV sector, audience groups and infrastructure through the Stakeholder Forum.
This includes a number of groups representing rural and UK-wide audiences, such as the Rural Services Network.
With regards to vulnerable groups, the Government has now published qualitative research that was commissioned to understand in more detail the specific preferences, motivations and barriers regarding TV viewing among groups who are currently unconnected. This research included groups who could be vulnerable. Affordability is a factor that is in scope of the Stakeholder Forum, which includes members with specific expertise on this issue; such as the Digital Poverty Alliance.
The future of DTT is secured in legislation until at least 2034. Before any decision is made in relation to the availability of services beyond this point, close consideration will be given to how any changes would impact audiences, and especially those who rely on digital terrestrial television as their primary means of watching television. The government stakeholder forum will conclude later this year and then the government will make a decision.
Asked by: Baroness Hoey (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that the needs of viewers in Northern Ireland are taken into account in the Future of TV Distribution Stakeholder Forum.
Answered by Baroness Twycross - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The Government’s project on the future of TV distribution is seeking to understand how people receive their television now and in the next decade. As part of this process, a wide range of views are being sought. The Stakeholder Forum benefits from the perspectives of a number of groups representing the interests of Northern Irish and UK-wide audiences, such as Voice of the Listener and Viewer, Digital Poverty Alliance and Silver Voices as well as the BBC. The Government has been engaging and will continue to engage with the devolved governments alongside industry representatives from Northern Ireland to understand the unique characteristics of broadcasting in each nation well in advance of any decision being taken.
Asked by: Baroness Hoey (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask His Majesty's Government whether they plan to refer the boycott of GB News by advertisers to the Competition and Markets Authority; and what assessment they have made of the implications of this on broadcasting freedoms.
Answered by Baroness Twycross - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The Government is committed to supporting a free, sustainable, and plural broadcasting landscape, and we want the public to be able to access information from a wide range of sources in order to form their own opinions. However, the placement of adverts is a commercial decision made by advertisers and individual businesses. The Government is not aware of any co-ordinated boycott of GB News by advertisers and has no plans to make a referral to the Competition and Markets Authority.
Asked by: Baroness Hoey (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the BBC about making access to its television channels by residents of the Republic of Ireland subject to subscription payment.
Answered by Baroness Twycross - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The Government does not hold information about the number of people who have access to free BBC channels from the Republic of Ireland.
The Government has not had discussions with the BBC about making access to its television channels by residents of the Republic of Ireland subject to subscription payment. With regard to the ongoing distribution of UK television services in the Republic of Ireland, the Government remains committed to the relevant provisions set out in the Good Friday Agreement and 2010 Memorandum of Understanding.
Asked by: Baroness Hoey (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask His Majesty's Government how many people in the Republic of Ireland have access to free BBC television channels.
Answered by Baroness Twycross - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The Government does not hold information about the number of people who have access to free BBC channels from the Republic of Ireland.
The Government has not had discussions with the BBC about making access to its television channels by residents of the Republic of Ireland subject to subscription payment. With regard to the ongoing distribution of UK television services in the Republic of Ireland, the Government remains committed to the relevant provisions set out in the Good Friday Agreement and 2010 Memorandum of Understanding.
Asked by: Baroness Hoey (Non-affiliated - Life peer)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the number of households choosing not to buy a television licence.
Answered by Baroness Twycross - Baroness in Waiting (HM Household) (Whip)
The number of households choosing not to buy a TV licence has risen in recent years. As noted in the TV Licence Fee Trust Statement, 23.7 million licences were in force in 2023/24, which is a decline from the peak of 25.9 million in 2017/18. TV licence evasion rates have also risen over the past decade from around 5.5% in 2013/14 to 11.3% in 2023/24.
These trends pose challenges to the long term sustainability of the licence fee. The forthcoming Charter Review is a key opportunity to set the BBC up for success long into the future. As we look at the future of the BBC, we must also ensure that it has a sustainable funding model that is fair for those who pay for it.