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
In 2025, following a review of the existing PSM Tracker and BBC Performance Tracker, Ofcom consulted on combining the two into one tracker, the new Adults’ Public Service Media Tracker. Combining the two trackers into a unified, continuous research programme provides a streamlined single source which will allow a detailed understanding of cross-platform media consumption habits and attitudes towards public service aspects of broadcast delivery. The new Adults’ PSM tracker will continue to be published annually.
For the first time in 2026, Ofcom has a new Children’s Public Service Media Tracker (among those aged 3-16) exploring children’s perceptions of different BBC services and PSBs. This will also be published annually.
Caution is advised when making comparisons with previous data as many statements and question wording have been amended to improve the survey.
Adults
Adults PSM Tracker Main Survey Questionnaire (PDF, 664 KB)
Adults PSM Tracker Main Survey Technical Report (PDF. 326 KB)
Adults PSM Tracker Main Survey Tables (PDF, 62.3 MB)
Adults PSM Tracker Main Survey Tables (xlsx, 4.86 MB)
Adults PSM Tracker Main Survey Codebook (CSV, 574 KB)
Adults PSM Tracker Main Survey Respondent level data (CSV, 9.03 MB)
Adults PSM Tracker Supplementary Survey Questionnaire (PDF, 599 KB)
Adults PSM Tracker Supplementary Survey Technical Report (PDF, 282 KB)
Adults PSM Tracker Supplementary Survey Tables (PDF, 42.2 MB)
Adults PSM Tracker Supplementary Survey Codebook (CSV, 574 KB)
Adults PSM Tracker Supplementary Survey Respondent level data (CSV, 12.3 MB)
Children
Children PSM Tracker - Questionnaire (PDF, 1.25 MB)
Childrens PSM Tracker - Technical Appendix (PDF, 357 KB)
Childrens PSM Tracker - Data tables (xlsx, 1.64 MB)
Childrens PSM Tracker - Data tables (PDF, 30.1 MB)
Childrens PSM Tracker - Respondent level data (xlsx, 8.51 MB)
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)