on 22/5/2024, 14:42:56, in reply to "Re: Rajar figures internet listening more than AM/FM"
Just read a report on Digital Exclusion which includes.
"The Office for National Statistics (ONS), for example, counts individuals as ‘internet users’ as long as they have used the internet once in the last three months. Once people are counted as ‘internet users’ they are no longer considered to be digitally excluded in many surveys, and so factors that restrict their use are seldom explored, such as only having access through public libraries, public WiFi, or at the homes of family or friends; needing to borrow devices to go online; needing help to carry out some digital tasks; slow internet speeds; and old, broken or cheap, subpar devices among many other factors.
Our survey data shows the urgency of this issue. Among people living on an annual household income of £25,000 or less, one in five never use the internet. This number rises to nearly one third of people with disabilities and nearly half of those aged 65 or over. Around one in five mobile phone users regularly run out of data before the end of the month. Extrapolating from the poll’s data, we estimate that there are around 2.4 million people living on household incomes of £25,000 or less who do not use the internet."
Much more information about all this if you scroll down.
https://www.ids.ac.uk/publications/digital-poverty-in-the-uk-accessible-version/
Many radio listeners only listen to a small number of stations, some mostly one. Easily tuned in on an AM/FM or DAB/FM radio or on presets.
They won't know about radio apps on their smartphones, which are free and which use up data or how to connect them to external speakers. They don't need ones that allow them access to thousands of other stations.
Ofcom have pressured broadband companies for social tariffs for those on benefits which have been introduced. The companies don't publicise them. Only 5% of entitled households have signed up for them, 53% are unaware of them.
This afternoon the Government published a Get Prepared for Emergencies webpage. It includes in Making a Plan
Write down...frequencies of any local and national radio stations that you use for news updates.
and include in your emergency kit
Battery or wind-up radio to get updates during a power cut – a car radio can be used, however in severe weather it might be safer to stay inside.
https://prepare.campaign.gov.uk/get-prepared-for-emergencies/
Previous Message
AA - figures can be twisted all over the place. I have a mobile phone, it gets used very little - a pay as you go, that cost about £10 in the last 2 years. On buying a newer car last week, I made sure it does have a decent radio, that includes MW - yes it does have FM & DAB, too - so if I want to hear non-stop BBC yak, I can do that too - cause in West Suffolk, there is not a lot of choice
Yes Mike - once you look at it, with a non-digital bias - it makes a lot more sense.
I also believe in the longer run, many broadcasters, will regret abandoning MW as well. Look at the way vinyl music,is returning to favour Previous Message
While all of the above all all perfectly true and valid points, I would bet that a reasonable percentage of those that say they cannot afford to have internet access at their home own a mobile phone that in turn gives them Internet connectivity. Radio apps can then be used to play either directly from the phone making it essentially a portable radio or to an external device.
The last figures I saw indicated that only something like less that ten percent of the population don't now own a mobile phone.
Message Thread 
Rajar figures internet listening more than AM/FM - Stephen Sullivan 16/5/2024, 22:48:56
« Back to index