Recommendation 20

The Committee recognises the seismic shifts in broadcasting arising from technological advancement, global competition, the decline in advertising / funding, and evolving audience behaviour. In short: how content is created, distributed and consumed. We appreciate that public service broadcasters feel the need to “be where the audience is”, or is increasingly moving towards, while also providing for those who still favour the more traditional scheduled output. We recognise the risk that placing PSB content into unregulated online spaces and platforms could blur the distinction between regulated and trustworthy PSB content and the unregulated context in which it sits. The Committee also shares the concerns of both Ofcom and the Scottish Government regarding Digital Terrestrial Television and the need for any future switch-off to be managed inclusively. We ask the UK Government to provide clarity as to how this will be achieved.