Campaigners for older people are furious over plans to make everyone watch internet services
TV channels delivered through an aerial could come to an end (Image: Getty Images)
In his strategic speech this week, the Director General of the BBC, Tim Davie, launched a suicidal campaign to take on the streaming giants on their territory, and thereby destroy traditional aerial and satellite TV distribution. He called on the Government to produce a national plan to end traditional TV distribution within the next ten years and make access to TV only available to those households with superfast broadband.
Why does this matter so much to Silver Voices? Millions of households, particularly those with older citizens and those on lower incomes, cannot afford the necessary broadband contracts even if they wanted them. And many are not interested in obtaining the streaming channels, being quite happy with their choices of terrestrial broadcast and Freeview channels.
Furthermore, many older people do not possess the necessary digital skills to access and maintain internet-based television. Even by 2040 it is estimated by Leeds University that at least 1.5 million people will not have access to broadband TV. Under the BBC’s plans all these people will lose access to any form of TV, increasing isolation and loneliness.
In his hubris, Tim Davie is seeking to bounce the Government into an early decision to end traditional TV. A National Stakeholder Forum, set up by the Government, has been meeting for the last few months to consider the options for future TV distribution and advise Ministers accordingly. I represent older people on this, and BBC representatives are also involved, but Mr Davie is aiming to marginalise this important work.
The Forum is considering another option to internet only TV, which is upgrading the existing digital terrestrial TV network so that traditional TV can continue to operate alongside streaming services up to 2040 and beyond. This is much the better option in terms of choice and universal access.
Tim Davie will be mistaken if he thinks he can take on Netflix, Amazon, Disney and the rest with their bottomless pockets. A BBC only available through streaming will be squeezed out of existence by the internet giants and we will have lost our secure and reliable public service broadcasting in the process.
