A new campaign, ‘Broadcast 2040+’, has been launched to protect broadcast TV and radio through to 2040 and beyond by Arqiva – a communications infrastructure and media services company – alongside the Rural Services Network, Age UK, Silver Voices, and the Voice of the Listener and Viewer.

The campaign aims to cement a long-term commitment to broadcasting services from government, highlighting the value of keeping these services accessible to all audiences across the country.

Arqiva is the owner and operator of the infrastructure that delivers both broadcast TV and radio across the UK. Through a network of 1,450 sites, Arqiva delivers these services to 98% of the UK.

Many of Arqiva’s sites are located in rural and more remote areas, with ongoing maintenance ensuring regional audiences have access to Freeview and broadcast radio. This includes during major weather events such as Storm Dudley, Storm Eunice and Storm Franklin, with Arqiva engineers working to safeguard the delivery of these services.

Broadcast TV is highly valued across the UK but plays a particularly important role for rural audiences with potentially limited or unreliable access to other content delivery options.

New research from the market research organisation Ipsos showed that:

• About three in five people (63%) in rural areas have watched Freeview via an aerial in the past year and about half (48%) watch weekly.
• 60% of people in rural areas say that continued provision of Freeview services via an aerial is very important, if not essential; and 73% say the same about radio services.
• Despite improvements in internet connectivity, 7%of adults in Great Britain suggest their internet connection is not good enough to be able to watch TV shows or listen to the radio online, with this impacting rural audiences more (9% in rural areas, compared to 4% in metropolitan areas).

This research highlights the importance of the Broadcast 2040+ campaign and ongoing support from government for the long-term delivery of broadcast TV and radio.

There are several policy decisions the UK must make to commit to broadcast services for the long-term. In the near future, this includes decisions around broadcasting’s access to radiofrequency spectrum (the “airwaves” that deliver broadcasting), funding models for the BBC, and the future of public sector broadcasting.

Through Broadcast 2040+, Arqiva, the Rural Services Network, and others will be working to support ongoing delivery of broadcasting across the country, to everyone, into the future.

Arqiva is a member of the Rural Services Network. In addition to being the national provider of terrestrial television and radio broadcasting, it is the only large-scale provider of smart water metering in the UK. More information is on the members webpage.