𝓤𝓷𝓲𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓝𝓮𝔀𝓼

Millions of vulnerable telly fans could be cut off from Britain’s biggest national moments because of plans to axe Freeview, campaigners have warned. Campaign group Broadcast 2040+ renewed calls for ministers to guarantee Freeview is not switched off so that the most vulnerable in society are not cut off from the biggest national moments.

It comes as 3.3 million households watched the final episode of this season of Celebrity Traitors on Freeview. Polling for Broadcast 2040+ found three quarters (76%) of Traitors fans said a Prime Minister who switched off Freeview would be acting more like a traitor, with just 11% saying a faithful.

Almost nine in 10 (87%) fans say big moments like The Traitors final must stay free to watch through an aerial, without needing broadband.

A spokesman for Broadcast 2040+ said: “Over ten million households sat down to watch the same show on the same night, and over three million of them did it through Freeview.

“The Government must guarantee Freeview is extended to 2044 so that the most vulnerable in society are not cut off from the biggest national moments”

Freeview is guaranteed to broadcast over-the-air until December 31 2034.

But the government is considering potential switch-off dates between then and 2044.

A decision is expected in an upcoming Government verdict on the future of television, with Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy under pressure to rule it out and commit to extending it to 2044 instead.

Broadcast 2040+ said more than eight in ten (84%) fans back keeping Freeview running until at least 2044, with just 6% opposed.

Dennis Reed, director of over-60s campaign group Silver Voices, said: “Surely Labour doesn’t intend to whack pensioners again, following the winter fuel fiasco and the Triple Lock betrayal? Forcing us to pay for fast broadband so that we can continue watching our favourite programmes like Traitors would be politically deranged. Freeview is the reliable way to keep communication open to the public if the internet is compromised and this batty proposal must be put to bed quickly.”

A government spokesman said: “We believe there is a strong case for a transition to IPTV, but no decisions have been made. The purpose of the media green paper was to gather views from across the sector and the public before any final decisions are taken.

“We are committed to ensuring that no one is left behind as TV viewing increasingly moves online. Any future transition would only proceed once we are confident the right safeguards, infrastructure and support are in place so that everyone can continue to access television affordably and with confidence.”

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