Hundreds of people in mainly rural communities of Cornwall could lose their TV channels.

Citizens Advice Cornwall is backing a campaign to protect TV and radio services in the area from the threat of closure

The support organisation said many people might not be aware but according to current plans from the Government, TV received through an aerial (Freeview) and broadcast radio are not guaranteed long term.

The campaign, Broadcast 2040+, attempts to protect these services which are currently delivered through Caradon Hill mast – including for the elderly and vulnerable people that rely on them the most – until 2040 and beyond.

Broadcast 2040+ is a coalition of organisations across the UK, including Age UK, Silver Voices, the Rural Services Network and broadcast infrastructure company.

Next year, an international conference will decide whether to safeguard the radiofrequency spectrum used to deliver these services.

The campaign calls on the UK Government to ensure that the international decision does not negatively impact the services relied on by the people of Cornwall.

Citizens Advice Cornwall said Freeview TV is especially important for older and vulnerable people, many of whom don’t understand or can’t afford services like Sky, Virgin or Netflix.

Gill Pipkin, CEO of Citizens Advice Cornwall, said:

"As a rural, low income area with an ageing population, people in Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly rely heavily on free broadcast media for companionship, entertainment and to keep informed.

A number of people we see are cancelling their TV subscriptions because they can no longer afford them. We strongly back this campaign to keep free access to broadcasting."

Full article:

Cornwall Live - Some Cornwall residents could lose all their Freeview TV channels

Arqiva and Citizens Advice are members of the Rural Services Network.  You can find out more about Arqiva here and more about Citizens Advice Cornwall here.