West Belfast MP tours Divis Transmitters

Paul Maskey MP sends signal of support for broadcast services

The MP for West Belfast, Paul Maskey, has endorsed the importance of local TV and radio services after visiting the well-known Divis masts, visible across Belfast and County Antrim. 

Standing at 152 and 140 metres, the transmitters are the most important in Northern Ireland, providing a range of TV and radio services for almost 500,000 households across the country.  

During the visit, the MP acknowledged the importance of the structure at a time when universal access to Freeview TV and local radio has come under threat.  

Mr Maskey said: “If you're living life on your own, sometimes the radio or TV can make all the difference to you. Sometimes it's the only company that people have, so it's very important that this type of service has continued and continues into the future.”

A coalition of charities and organisations across the UK are working together as part of the Broadcast 2040+ campaign, which seeks to protect vital TV and radio services for everyone – including the elderly and vulnerable people that rely on them the most – until 2040 and beyond. 

Freeview TV is especially important for older and vulnerable people, many of whom don’t understand or can’t afford services like Sky, Virgin or Netflix. 

Tara Pollock, director of communications at Arqiva, the infrastructure company which owns and operates the UK’s transmission network, said: “It was a pleasure to meet Paul and to discuss our services and their importance in the North of Ireland and across the UK as a whole.”

ENDS