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<p>The Government is supportive of a modern system of public service broadcasting
that remains relevant and can continue to meet the needs of UK audiences in the future.
In particular, the government believes that television audiences should continue to
have access to a wide range of public service content on a free-to-air basis.</p><p>The
rapid growth in the take-up of superfast broadband and the proliferation of devices
capable of connecting to the internet is changing the way we access audiovisual content.
For example, 79% of households with a TV set now choose to connect it to the internet,
giving them access to a wide array of additional services. These include both free-to-air
and subscription-based video-on-demand services.</p><p>As set out in our Broadcasting
White Paper, the government is taking steps to support public service broadcasting
and to protect audiences who cannot (or choose not to) access these additional services.
In particular, we facilitated the extension of the DTT (“Freeview”) platform until
2034, in recognition of the important role it will continue to play as a means of
watching both public service and commercial television. This includes programmes intended
to contribute to the learning and development of young people.</p><p>In addition,
support is available for low-income households to access affordable broadband. A range
of low-cost, broadband social tariffs are available in 99% of the UK. BT, Virgin Media
O2, Sky, and other providers offer broadband social tariffs starting at £15 per month
for households in receipt of Universal Credit and other means tested benefits. In
addition, on 27 June, all the UK’s major broadband and mobile operators agreed a set
of public <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/news/telecoms-industry-agrees-to-new-cost-of-living-plan-following-government-summit-led-by-digital-secretary-nadine-dorries"
target="_blank">commitments</a> to support households with their connectivity costs.</p><p>For
these reasons, the government has not undertaken an assessment of the effect on the
learning and development of young people of TV channels only being available over
the internet to those families who can afford to pay for those services.</p><p> </p>
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