The Great Network, owned by Narrative Entertainment UK, has joined the Broadcast 2040+ campaign, a coalition committed to securing a long-term future for free-to-air broadcast TV and radio.
- Broadcaster behind Great! TV and Great! Mystery channels wants free-to-air broadcasting safeguarded.
With the BBC and Channel 4 previously indicating their support for a shift to online-only viewing, TV broadcaster Great has joined a growing number of smaller broadcasters and charities involved in the Broadcast 2040+ campaign, which calls for free-to-air TV and radio to be safeguarded.
The campaign demands that free-to-air is retained, “ensuring that its audiences continue to have access to TV no matter the technology they have in their homes”.
Ratings data from Barb shows 93% of those 55 and over watch broadcast TV every week, and Great’s recent report, The Upper Third, shows that the majority appreciate terrestrial TV because it is free, doesn’t require any kind of login or password, and offers vital companionship for viewers across the UK.
The UK government is actively reviewing the future of TV distribution through a ministerial forum to make a decision on whether to renew the licences supporting terrestrial TV beyond 2034. MPs recently convened to defend the importance of terrestrial TV led by the Rt Hon. David Mundell, MP for Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale.
This brings the total number of organisations in the coalition to 38 with other members including: Age UK, the Digital Poverty Alliance, Silver Voices, the Rural Services Network, the Voice of the Listener and Viewer, and Arqiva.
Comments
Kate Gartland, Marketing Director at Great!, commented:
“TV plays such an important role in everyday life. It’s company, it’s nostalgia, it’s comic relief. And it’s vital that we don’t jeopardise that. This isn’t about being scared of technology changes – we know our audiences well, and we know that they’re very comfortable with tech. But that doesn’t mean that they all have the latest TV, a reliable high-speed internet connection, and the means to suddenly begin paying for something they’ve known and loved, free, their entire lives. We want to see terrestrial TV backed for as long as possible.”
A representative of the Broadcast 2040+ campaign added:
“Great! is committed to ensuring viewers continue to access a rich and diverse range of well-loved content simply and without additional costs – a goal that the Broadcast 2040+ campaign shares. We are united in our belief that the future of terrestrial TV will not and should not end in 2034, and that this vital service must continue to serve audiences across the UK into the 2040s.”
Analysis
Narrative Entertainment’s Great Network offers four free-to-air channels including Great! TV, Great! Action, Great! Mystery, and Great! Christmas. Narrative is also behind the Pop children’s channels. Despite Great coming out in favour of preserving free-to-air broadcast TV, it should be pointed out that Great did pull its channels from free-to-air satellite service Freesat in 2024. Freesat provides universal access to TV services outside the range of the full Freeview service. That’s especially relevant, because Great’s Freeview coverage is pegged at around 90% of UK households. Despite a gradual reduction of services available on Freesat, it’s particularly useful and easy to operate for those older users who still mostly watch traditional TV.
Viewers can also choose to stream Great’s channels via the Great! Player. It also offers additional hybrid streaming services, including Great! Movies and Great! Romance Mix.
By: Marc Thornham | Image: Great!/Broadcast 2040+