TV Industry

The major TV channels in the UK are BBC1, BBC2, ITV1 and Channel 4, their target audience’s range from children to adults. BBC1 is the UK’s most popular channel, the channel showcases Britain’s best talent and the nations most talked about and loved programmes. BBC1 targets both working class and middle class citizens. Programmes such as Eastenders and Holby City are aimed at the lower class; these programmes are put on later at night (Eastenders 7.30pm or 8pm & Holby City 8pm) because people will be home from work by that time. During the course of the day while people are at work programmes such as Bargain Hunt & Escape to the country are on, I think these programmes are aimed at the older generations that have maybe retired and may be at home for most of the day.

BBC2 is a mainstream channel, the main genre schedule to air on this channel is factual programming, they aspire to be the place that viewers find the finest arts, history, science and human interest documentaries. I think BBC2 is aimed at the older generation 40-60 as I think the genre of programmes such as factual programming would only appeal to a few of the younger generations. BBC2 airs programmes such as Dragons Den, which would target an audience of intelligent entrepreneurs.

ITV1 is aimed at all audiences, the time of day would depend on the specific target audience, they air different genre of TV programmes to target different audiences. It airs programmes such as Emmerdale and Coronation Street aimed at the lower class, it also airs football matches on a regular occasion aimed at middle-aged males. There’s a wide range of genres that would appeal to a wide range of audiences, so the channel ensures different people would tune in at different times rather than having the same audience for the whole day. 

Channel 4 aims its shows at 16-34 year olds, which is a broad target audience, this keeps the channel up to date with the younger generation as it has aired programmes such as youngers which were aimed at the younger generations as the storyline for the programme was something that teenagers might be able to relate to. Channel 4 also airs a lot of documentaries but they take a different approach to them which would be more appealing to the younger generation and would encourage them to watch it.

BBC1 is funded mainly through the television licence, which costs £145.50 per year per household. According to the BBC’s 2012/13 annual report its total income was £5,102.3 million, which can be broken down into: £3,656.2 million in license fees collected from householders, £1,101.2 million from the BBC’s Commercial Businesses, £269.7 million from government grants and £75.2 million from other income such as rental collections and royalties from overseas broadcasts of programming. However commercial programmes are funded by a small amount of television licence, but the rest is funded by advertising as people who own the commercials pay to have there advertisements aired on the TV channels.