Tis' true! I know a guy who works for the Beeb, he's a bit of a greboe, and he samples Jr.Walker & all stars tracks (sax solo bits)for use on some of their programmes.
However, I know some guys in the business (TV) are well into Northern & Ska. When you think that most of the producers are now our age group (30s/40s) it stands to reason really.
'Wife Swap' (last years anyway) was full of Northern, and that geezer 'The City Gardner' had a Northern background score.
Look at the Ska in the ads too!