Asked by: Siobhain McDonagh (Labour - Mitcham and Morden)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, if she will bring forward the plans in the Broadcasting White Paper for Ofcom to undertake a review on market changes that may affect the future of content distribution before the end of 2025, in the context of (a) the nine channels leaving Freeview this year and (b) the BBC’s plans to remove CBBC from broadcast TV.
Answered by Matt Warman
The Government is committed to the future of the Digital Terrestrial Television (DTT) platform (better known as “Freeview”) which remains popular with UK audiences and which plays an important role in supporting the delivery of public service broadcasting. It is our expectation that DTT will continue to be an important content distribution channel at least into the early 2030s. In recognition of this, the government has facilitated the long term renewal of DTT licences until 2034.
As set out in the Broadcasting White Paper, the government will ask Ofcom to undertake a review of market changes that may affect the future of content distribution before the end of 2025. Next steps in relation to this will be set out in due course.
Asked by: Siobhain McDonagh (Labour - Mitcham and Morden)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment (a) her Department and (b) Ofcom have made of the impact on low income households without broadband of broadcast TV channels, including CBBC and other public service broadcast channels from the BBC, going online only.
Answered by Matt Warman
The BBC is operationally and editorially independent from the government, and decisions over its spending and services are a matter for the BBC. We recognise the BBC, just like individual households, businesses and other organisations across the UK, is having to make difficult financial decisions.
However, the government is clear that the BBC must continue to deliver its Mission and Public Purposes, which includes providing high quality, distinctive content and services. The BBC must also comply with the requirements in their Operating Licence, as set and regulated independently by Ofcom. This includes ensuring an amount of children's television is shown prominently on television.
We note that Ofcom is currently conducting a public consultation on a new Operating Licence to give the BBC greater flexibility to deliver its Mission and Public Purposes rather than having to meet specific quantitative quotas. We will continue to discuss Ofcom’s proposals with them as the consultation progresses.
Asked by: Siobhain McDonagh (Labour - Mitcham and Morden)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, what assessment she has made of the effect of the learning and development of young people where access to TV channels, including public service broadcast channels, are only available over the internet to those families who can afford to pay for those services.
Answered by Matt Warman
The Government is supportive of a modern system of public service broadcasting that remains relevant and can continue to meet the needs of UK audiences in the future. In particular, the government believes that television audiences should continue to have access to a wide range of public service content on a free-to-air basis.
The rapid growth in the take-up of superfast broadband and the proliferation of devices capable of connecting to the internet is changing the way we access audiovisual content. For example, 79% of households with a TV set now choose to connect it to the internet, giving them access to a wide array of additional services. These include both free-to-air and subscription-based video-on-demand services.
As set out in our Broadcasting White Paper, the government is taking steps to support public service broadcasting and to protect audiences who cannot (or choose not to) access these additional services. In particular, we facilitated the extension of the DTT (“Freeview”) platform until 2034, in recognition of the important role it will continue to play as a means of watching both public service and commercial television. This includes programmes intended to contribute to the learning and development of young people.
In addition, support is available for low-income households to access affordable broadband. A range of low-cost, broadband social tariffs are available in 99% of the UK. BT, Virgin Media O2, Sky, and other providers offer broadband social tariffs starting at £15 per month for households in receipt of Universal Credit and other means tested benefits. In addition, on 27 June, all the UK’s major broadband and mobile operators agreed a set of public commitments to support households with their connectivity costs.
For these reasons, the government has not undertaken an assessment of the effect on the learning and development of young people of TV channels only being available over the internet to those families who can afford to pay for those services.
Asked by: Siobhain McDonagh (Labour - Mitcham and Morden)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, whether she has made an assessment of the potential impact of changes in TV distribution methods on universal access to public service broadcasting, including for low income households that cannot afford broadband.
Answered by Matt Warman
The Government is supportive of a modern system of public service broadcasting that remains relevant and can continue to meet the needs of UK audiences in the future. In particular, the government believes that television audiences should continue to have access to a wide range of public service content on a free-to-air basis.
The rapid growth in the take-up of superfast broadband and the proliferation of devices capable of connecting to the internet is changing the way we access audiovisual content. For example, 79% of households with a TV set now choose to connect it to the internet, giving them access to a wide array of additional services. These include both free-to-air and subscription-based video-on-demand services.
As set out in our Broadcasting White Paper, the government is taking steps to support public service broadcasting and to protect audiences who cannot (or choose not to) access these additional services. In particular, we facilitated the extension of the DTT (“Freeview”) platform until 2034, in recognition of the important role it will continue to play as a means of watching both public service and commercial television. This includes programmes intended to contribute to the learning and development of young people.
In addition, support is available for low-income households to access affordable broadband. A range of low-cost, broadband social tariffs are available in 99% of the UK. BT, Virgin Media O2, Sky, and other providers offer broadband social tariffs starting at £15 per month for households in receipt of Universal Credit and other means tested benefits. In addition, on 27 June, all the UK’s major broadband and mobile operators agreed a set of public commitments to support households with their connectivity costs.
For these reasons, the government has not undertaken an assessment of the effect on the learning and development of young people of TV channels only being available over the internet to those families who can afford to pay for those services.
Asked by: Siobhain McDonagh (Labour - Mitcham and Morden)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, whether she has asked Ofcom to set out what it considers to be the relationship between its current review of net neutrality guidelines and the plans set out in the Broadcasting White Paper to carry out a future review on market changes that may affect the future of content distribution.
Answered by Matt Warman
In September 2021, Ofcom launched a review of how its net neutrality guidelines are functioning, noting that there have been significant changes since the rules were first introduced. The review takes into account the views of a variety of stakeholders, including broadcasters and content distributors, with a consultation on proposals expected later this year. We look forward to their findings.
The Government recognises that the future of digital and telecoms infrastructure in the UK, including issues around net neutrality, is linked to the future of TV distribution. In the Broadcasting White Paper, the government reaffirmed its commitment to the future of the Digital Terrestrial Television platform (Freeview) at least until the early 2030s. It also stated that before the end of 2025, it will ask Ofcom to undertake a review on market changes that may affect the future of content distribution before the end of 2025. Next steps will be set out in due course.
Asked by: Siobhain McDonagh (Labour - Mitcham and Morden)
Question to the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport:
To ask the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, whether she has asked Ofcom to consider how its current review of net neutrality guidelines relates to the future of TV distribution and the enabling of affordable, inclusive reach of IP connectivity; and if she will make a statement.
Answered by Matt Warman
In September 2021, Ofcom launched a review of how its net neutrality guidelines are functioning, noting that there have been significant changes since the rules were first introduced. The review takes into account the views of a variety of stakeholders, including broadcasters and content distributors, with a consultation on proposals expected later this year. We look forward to their findings.
The Government recognises that the future of digital and telecoms infrastructure in the UK, including issues around net neutrality, is linked to the future of TV distribution. In the Broadcasting White Paper, the government reaffirmed its commitment to the future of the Digital Terrestrial Television platform (Freeview) at least until the early 2030s. It also stated that before the end of 2025, it will ask Ofcom to undertake a review on market changes that may affect the future of content distribution before the end of 2025. Next steps will be set out in due course.