Research by the media regulator has found that TV and online are at marginally similar rates as the main source of news for UK adults in 2024. Broadcasters had spent six decades leading radio and newspapers as the British public’s main source of news, before seeing a downward trend in recent years, according to Ofcom. Its news consumption survey 2024 found TV news as the primary source of information has gradually “declined”.
To address the issue, Ofcom’s next review of public service media will look at “how well PSBs (public service broadcasters) have delivered for UK audiences, including how PSB news is made available to audiences online”, and will provide recommendations on potential regulation or legislation needed. TV was seen as the central platform by 75% of survey respondents in 2023, and 79% in 2018, but the figure was 70% in 2024, the Ofcom survey showed. Online news has seen the reverse trend, increasing from 64% of people’s main source in 2018 to 68% in 2023, and then moving to the 71% this year.
Newspapers have been experiencing a downward trend for some time (Andrew Matthews/PA) Yih-Choung Teh, Ofcom group director, strategy and research, said: “Television has dominated people’s news habits since the 1960s, and it still commands really high trust. “But we’re witnessing a generational shift to online news, which is often seen as less reliable – together with growing fears about misinformation and deepfake content. “Ofcom wants to secure .