Darlington’s MP, Peter Gibson, spoke at the Department for Culture, Media and Sport Oral Questions in the House of Commons this week, and has raised concerns over continued Government support for terrestrial tv and radio.
He appeared in the House of Commons on Thursday, January 26.
Broadcast TV and radio remain universally available services of vital importance to the UK, Gibson alluded.
They also remain widely popular, according to an Ipsos research report commissioned by Arqiva, in the past year 55 per cent of adults in Great Britain have watched Freeview TV, with 76 per cent of these watching every week.
Read more: Darlington's Peter Gibson backs Hunting Trophies ban in Parliament
In his question, Mr Gibson highlighted the importance of terrestrial television and radio to some of the most vulnerable in society and further highlighted the impact of the Bilsdale mast catching fire in 2021, when it was reported that up to one million homes had lost TV and radio signals.
Mr Gibson called on the government to commit to ensuring that “broadcast tv and radio is supported well into the future so that everyone can enjoy these services.”
Answering Mr Gibson’s question, Julia Lopez MP, Minister of State for Media, Data, and Digital Infrastructure, made clear that the Government’s support for terrestrial TV and radio and assured Mr Gibson that the Government has already committed to supporting it until at least 2034.
Speaking about terrestrial TV and Radio, Mr Gibson said; “Broadcast TV and Radio is of huge importance to many of my constituents in Darlington, particularly older people who may not have access to streaming services.
“It acts as a lifeline for many of them and it is hugely important that the Government continue to support this vital service into the future.”
Read next:
- 'See the town in a different light': Darlington Lights returns with installations
- Men leave Darlington restaurant without paying bill and are caught on CCTV footage
- Arts Council-funded music & spoken word event comes to Darlington venue - here's when
If you want to read more great stories, why not subscribe to The Northern Echo for as little as £1.25 a week. Click here.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel