Understanding what people in the UK need from public service media
We carry out research into the UK’s satisfaction with, and attitudes and opinions towards public service broadcasters (PSB). This helps us evaluate whether or not PSBs have fulfilled the purposes and characteristics of their public service remit.
Ofcom has a responsibility to evaluate whether or not PSBs have fulfilled the purposes and characteristics of their public service remit.
Public Service Media Tracker
We publish our annual Public Service Media Tracker, which explores adults’ perceptions of PSBs and their on-demand services (BVoDs).
The future of public service media
As part of Small Screen: Big Debate (our review of the future of public service media), we carried out an extensive programme of research to understand what people across the UK want and need from public service broadcasting (PSB).
This research was commissioned as a follow-up to the research we published in July 2020. This new study explored how the Covid-19 pandemic and UK lockdown has impacted attitudes and behaviours towards PSB.
- The impact of lockdown on audiences’ relationship with PSB: summary report (PDF, 663.1 KB)
- Quantitative research findings (PDF, 1.5 MB)
- Quantitative research findings – data tables (PDF, 7.5 MB)
- Quantitative research findings – data (CSV, 2.8 MB)
- Quantitative research findings – September questionnaire (PDF, 533.8 KB)
We commissioned research to ask viewers and listeners from across the UK to tell us about their use of PSB content, its role and relevance in their lives, and how that might change in the future. The full report and videos highlighting some of the observations from our interviews and focus groups are available below.
We have also published a quantitative report and the data tables focusing on the perceived personal and societal benefits of PSB. This is part of our ongoing research and took place before the Covid-19 UK lockdown.
Public Service Broadcasting: omnibus survey findings (PDF, 782.1 KB)
Public Service Broadcasting: omnibus survey findings – data tables (PDF, 2.6 MB)
Public Service Broadcasting: omnibus survey findings – data (CSV, 3.0 MB)
Quantitative research findings – March questionnaire (PDF, 223.5 KB)
May 2020
As a follow-up to our work in February (below), we commissioned YouthSight to again ask a panel of young people about their media consumption habits. This was during the period of lockdown due to the coronavirus pandemic and we specifically asked about the role of UK broadcasters during the pandemic, their consumption habits during lockdown and if they feel their habits could change once restrictions are lifted.
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February 2020
To better our understand young people’s media habits and how their needs can be met by UK broadcasting, we commissioned YouthSight to ask a panel of young people about their media consumption habits including what content they have been watching recently, how they came across the content they watch and what advice they have for Public Service Broadcasters to compete in a world of streaming services.