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An Ofcom review into public service broadcasting (PSB) in the UK has raised concerns about a fall in spending on drama and children's programming.

Investment in TV drama has fallen by 44% since the last review in 2008.

The report found that "the drops in the levels of investment, particularly on ITV, are a concern".

 

The media watchdog's review found spending on children's programmes in the UK had also fallen from ÂĢ103m in 2008 to ÂĢ88m in 2014.

The BBC now accounts for 97% (ÂĢ84m) of total public service broadcasting spending on children's programmes.

Spending by ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5 on children's TV has dropped by 74% to ÂĢ3m in 2014.

The review points out there is "very limited provision of non-animation programming beyond the BBC".

 

The review found that, despite the success of big budget dramas like Downtown Abbey and Doctor Who, the amount of new UK drama being shown on the main channels has fallen from 627 hours in 2008 to 371 hours in 2014.

Although it noted that "audience satisfaction with drama is stable".

The review found that - following the removal of specific quotas in 2003 - public service programmes in arts and classical music, religion and ethics, and formal education has significantly reduced.

 

PSB broadcasters have shifted investment towards cheaper genres over the review period (e.g. replacing drama with relatively cheaper entertainment programmes).

 

Report:

http://stakeholders.ofcom.org....view_3_Statement.pdf

Data to report:

http://stakeholders.ofcom.org....iew_3_Data_Annex.pdf

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I don't think any of that will come as a surprise to anyone.

The non-BBC channels effectively gave up on proper children's programming years ago, and while the BBC is still committed its programmes are effectively ghettoized on specific childrens channels.

 

There are still some good original dramas being produced, but they're unquestionably fewer. Interestingly, I read only this week that "Humans" is C4's highest-rating original drama in decades, so it's not like there isn't a demand out there...

Eugene's Lair
Last edited by Eugene's Lair

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