The Government will decide in coming months whether to scrap Freeview TV, it is understood.
Pensioners face major TV changes if Government scraps Freeview TV (Image: Getty)
Thirteen million households face having to pay an “expensive broadband contract” if the Government scraps Freeview, a campaigner has warned.
Ministers will decide in coming months whether to turn off terrestrial signals and rely solely on internet-based TV (IPTV) in the future.
Dennis Reed, director of Silver Voices, said: “There will be political fury if the Government takes the rash decision to scrap Freeview. 13 million households will find that their roof top aerial is no longer working and that they will be forced to take out an expensive broadband contract in order to continue watching their favourite TV programmes.
“Universal free to air television has been a feature of UK society for 75 years, where moments of national celebrations and crisis have been shared by all, irrespective of incomes and abilities. All this is being put at risk through the selfish attitudes of the public service broadcasters, led by the BBC, who are putting commercial interests before the public interest.
“The Government too seems to think that forcing people to conduct all their business through the internet is the way forward, digital telephones and a potential national digital ID card being other examples of this attitude. On behalf of millions of older and disabled people, and those on low and modest incomes, Silver Voices will fight tooth and nail to stop Freeview from being scrapped.”
Outgoing BBC director general Tim Davie hasurged the Government to press ahead with axing terrestrial television
Lynette Nightingale, 80, who lives in Kent, told how terrestrial TV is essential for her to stay informed and entertained.
She added: “I don’t want to be choosing apps and making new accounts, I don’t want a screen that pops up with the TV trying to work out what I want to watch.
“I’ve tried watching television programmes online with family members, and they stop part way through with a whirling circle and then an error message appears.
“I tried a streaming service and didn’t like it. It is time-consuming and irritating trying to work out where I want to be, to remember the sequence of clicks, with hieroglyphics instead of words. If I make a mistake I have to start again. I have more important things to remember than clogging up my memory with unnecessary information.
“With my TV in my kitchen, and the normal channels through an aerial, I can leave a channel on that I know I like. I’m worried that the government will decide to take that away from me and others, who either don’t like, can’t afford or can’t use online versions”.
More than 11,000 people have signed a petition to save Freeview TV.
This petition, published by Silver Voices with the support of the Digital Poverty Alliance and the Broadcast 2040+ Coalition, calls on the Government to pledge to keep Freeview terrestrial TV until at least the mid- 2040s.
A Department for Culture, Media and Sport spokesman said: We are committed to ensuring that no-one is left behind as TV viewing increasingly moves to online platforms.
“That is why the government is currently working with the TV industry and other key players in the sector on a long-term sustainable approach to TV distribution in the UK for years to come. This will include a decision on whether to further extend the current commitment to digital terrestrial television until at least 2034.”
