6:29 am - August 26, 2025
Broadcasters in the UK are facing the same crisis of audience disengagement that has gripped the newspaper industry in recent years, as rising news fatigue prompts a sharp drop in interest, particularly among younger viewers.
Data from the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism shows public interest in news has fallen from 70% in 2015 to just 38% in 2024. It’s an indicator of how constant exposure to negative headlines is pushing people away from the very content media organisations rely on to maintain public engagement and trust.
The trend is not just affecting audiences. “Sometimes I choose music over the news because it feels overwhelming,” said Lyse Doucet, the BBC’s chief international correspondent. Veteran broadcaster Jonathan Dimbleby echoed her concern, observing that young people in particular are tuning out. The effects are already visible: daily news consumption in the UK has dropped by 32% over the past decade.
There is growing scepticism, too. Nearly half of Britons now say they doubt media impartiality. And while news is more accessible than ever, many find it overwhelming. The result is a paradox: easy access to journalism is not translating into a more informed public.
At the BBC, Director of News Deborah Turness is leading efforts to combat this fatigue. These include mixing traditional reporting with stories that focus on solutions or progress, and using AI to personalise news delivery so audiences can engage with topics that feel relevant and manageable. The aim is to make space for nuance and hope without compromising rigour.
But critics warn this kind of personalisation could risk deepening echo chambers. There’s a fine line between relevance and retreat, and avoiding harder truths in favour of feelgood content risks narrowing public understanding at a time when broad awareness is essential.
The shift in consumption patterns is dramatic. For the first time since the 1960s, television is no longer the most-used news source in the UK. Social media platforms like Facebook, YouTube and TikTok now dominate, especially among 16 to 24-year-olds – over 80% of whom get their news primarily from those platforms. Although the BBC still reaches a large online audience, many younger viewers are abandoning traditional broadcast altogether.
That shift is straining the business model. A government-commissioned report by Ofcom warns that rising distribution costs are undermining the viability of traditional television. It suggests either developing a leaner terrestrial service or winding down unprofitable channels – a difficult prospect when many older and lower-income viewers still depend on free-to-air TV.
This erosion of the shared news experience also feeds into a broader global trend of news avoidance, driven in part by concerns for mental health. While disconnecting can offer temporary relief, it may also reduce the scrutiny placed on those in power and leave audiences more vulnerable to misinformation.
The dilemma for broadcasters is clear: how to report honestly and comprehensively without overwhelming their audiences. As Doucet put it, “We need to find a way to tell the truth without draining the spirit.” It’s a challenge that cuts to the heart of public service journalism in a fragmenting media world.
Source: Noah Wire Services
- https://www.inkl.com/news/even-britain-s-news-legends-are-switching-off-why-top-broadcasters-are-turning-away-from-relentless-doom-and-gloom – Please view link – unable to able to access data
- https://www.ft.com/content/8ecada2b-e095-4f63-b1d4-92d88242b1a2 – An article from the Financial Times reports that, for the first time since the 1960s, television has ceased to be the primary source of news in the UK. Online platforms like Facebook, YouTube, and TikTok now slightly surpass television in news consumption. This shift is particularly pronounced among younger audiences, with over 80% of individuals aged 16-24 obtaining their news from social media. The decline in traditional TV viewership poses challenges for broadcasters like the BBC, Sky, and Channel 4, who are under increasing pressure to enhance their digital offerings to cater to both younger and older audiences.
- https://www.ft.com/content/e988f2d5-9b25-41da-b913-e5e365dc60ec – The Financial Times highlights that, despite the shift towards online news consumption, the BBC remains the top news source in the UK. In 2024, 71% of Britons accessed news online, slightly surpassing the 70% who still relied on television. The BBC continues to dominate across all media platforms—radio, TV, and online content. This dominance spans various political affiliations, indicating the BBC’s critical role in shaping political discourse and elections in the UK. The article also touches upon potential future considerations, including the mutualisation of the BBC and the capital spending gap in healthcare infrastructure.
- https://www.ft.com/content/b2767d2f-f1cb-4157-a37d-fae275ba069e – An article from the Financial Times discusses the growing trend of news avoidance, suggesting that many self-help podcasts recommend disconnecting from the news to ‘live your best life.’ This trend is rising globally, with significant increases in Britain and the U.S. The avoidance is driven by concerns over mental health and the distressing nature of current events. While occasional news avoidance might be beneficial for well-being, the article argues that completely disconnecting undermines the ability to hold leaders accountable and stay informed in a democracy, potentially exacerbating misinformation and distorting public perception.
- https://www.ft.com/content/bffd62d2-5e5f-4df3-bd8a-ef4596eabbe4 – The Financial Times reports that less than half of young audiences in the UK watch broadcast television weekly, marking a significant shift from 2018 when 76% of 16- to 24-year-olds did so. In 2023, only 48% of this age group tuned in to regular broadcast services weekly. Younger generations, particularly Gen Z and Alpha, prefer video-sharing platforms like YouTube, spending three times more time on these platforms than on traditional TV. This trend poses challenges for UK free-to-air broadcasters who rely heavily on advertising revenue.
- https://www.ft.com/content/0bb4f0a2-c31d-4479-b268-b84dc88fc341 – An article from the Financial Times reports that British broadcasters have warned that terrestrial television is becoming economically unviable as more people opt to watch online. A UK government-commissioned report by Ofcom found that rising distribution costs make it less cost-effective to serve viewers who remain on traditional TV. A transition from terrestrial TV would particularly affect older and poorer audiences lacking high-speed internet. Ofcom proposes options to sustain TV services, including a more efficient terrestrial service, a core service with main channels, or phasing out terrestrial channels by the 2030s with support for affected viewers.
- https://www.inkl.com/news/even-britain-s-news-legends-are-switching-off-why-top-broadcasters-are-turning-away-from-relentless-doom-and-gloom – An article from Inkl discusses the emotional toll of the relentless stream of ‘gloomy’ headlines on both the public and journalists. Top UK broadcasters admit to tuning out from the constant flood of negative news, highlighting a growing issue of widespread news fatigue. The article cites a 32% decline in daily news consumption in the UK over the past decade and nearly half of Britons expressing scepticism about the impartiality of the media. It also discusses the BBC’s efforts to combat news avoidance by balancing urgent news with more hopeful and solution-focused stories, using artificial intelligence to personalise news feeds, and offering a variety of formats and styles to match viewers’ moods and preferences.
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