Research and reports

As part of Small Screen: Big Debate, we are carrying out an extensive programme of research and events to understand what people across the UK want and need from public service broadcasting (PSB). We will keep this section updated throughout the review.

We have also produced an interactive data tool which showcases the changes in the media landscape that young people have seen in their lifetime.

Research

This research was commissioned as a follow-up to the research we published in July. This new study explored how the Covid-19 pandemic and UK lockdown has impacted attitudes and behaviours towards PSB. The full research report and videos highlighting some of the observations from our interviews and focus groups are available below.

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.

An exploration of people’s relationship with PSB; with a particular focus on the views of young people – Jigsaw Research (PDF, 2.0 MB)

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)

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.

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.

Reports

In June last year we published a report by consultancy Mediatique looking at the commercial dynamics involved when services like iPlayer or Netflix are carried by connected TV platforms like Amazon’s Fire TV or Samsung’s Tizen. We noted that these dynamics were relevant to the future of public service media.

Our stakeholder engagement since then suggested that advertising is playing an increasingly important role in these dynamics. To deepen our understanding of this area we commissioned consultancy Spark Ninetyto produce a report on the market dynamics of advertising in connected TV, including arrangements on advertising inventory, revenue shares, and the underlying technology and data.

Connected TV gateways: review of market dynamics – a report by Mediatique (PDF, 2.0 MB)

Connected TV advertising market dynamics – a report by Spark Ninety (PDF, 2.8 MB)

Research and reports

Research

The impact of lockdown on audiences’ relationship with PSB – December 2020

Attitudes to PSB – July 2020

Young people's attitudes to PSB – May 2020

Young people's attitudes to PSB – February 2020

Reports

Commercial dynamics in the connected TV market: reports by Mediatique and Spark Ninety – January 2021

Mediatique: Future models for the delivery of public service broadcasting – December 2020

LSE and University of Leeds: Debating the future of public service broadcasting – December 2020

Dr Helen Weeds: Rethinking public service broadcasting for the digital age – December 2020

EY: International perspectives on public service broadcasting – 12 October 2020

Small Screen: Big Debate – a five-year review of UK broadcasting – 27 February 2020

Channel 4 Corporation five-year review – 27 February 2020