Influences and
Constraints in media
In this blog I will be focusing on the influences and constraints
that two television networks have to consider when commissioning a program. The
fact that Television itself is an industry and business is pretty much their overriding
objective. The two networks I will be discussing are the BBC and Chanel 4. Some
would say that these two channels are very different from each other, in terms
of the type of programs that they broadcast. The intention of this blog is to gather information for the creative person,
who thinks up a great idea for a television show but cannot decide which network
he should bring it to in order to get produced. What factors would they have to
take on board if they decided to go to the BBC with their idea and how
different would it be going to channel 4 with their masterpiece. If the program
idea that the creative person has includes, over the top sexual content and a
high level of violence or crime, would their best option be to go to the BBC
with their idea. Would the BBC even consider, in this day and age, a program
that included such features? This Blog will examine the list of rules and
regulations that the BBC must conform to, in order to commission a program. It
will also compare how different it might be if the potential program maker
decides to go to channel 4 with their idea. Considering how different the
program output is for these two UK networks, would a program maker that’s idea
includes the above aspects (violence, sexual content and crime) have a better
chance of success if they tried to get it commissioned by channel 4. Below is a brief overview of both the television networks and how they are funded.
(The BBC)
When the BBC launched its very first radio service few
people could have imagined what impact broadcasting would have on everyday
lives. By 1936 the BBC began the world’s first regular high definition
television service. They were also the first broadcasters in Europe to bring
colour to the small screen. Programmes such as drama, sport, outside
broadcasts, and cartoons all featured in the schedules. The very first live
programme transmitted was (Here’s looking at you) a variety show in August
1936. It was performed twice a day for ten days - total programme budget was
£300. Today the BBC is the largest broadcaster in the world by number of
employees, with about 23,000 staff.
(CHANNEL 4)
Channel 4 was launched in 1982 to provide a fourth
television service to the people of the united kingdom in addition to the television licence–funded
BBC's two services and the single commercial broadcasting network, ITV. Channel
4 is a publicly-owned, commercially-funded public service broadcaster. The
Network does not receive any public funding and has a remit to be innovative,
experimental and distinctive in its programming content. The first programme to
air on the channel was the teatime game show Countdown, at 16:45 produced by
Yorkshire Television and it is still running as of 2012.
(FUNDING)
The BBC is a semi-autonomous public service broadcaster and
it functions under a royal charter. In the United Kingdom the work the network
does is principally funded by an annual television licence fee which is charged
to every household company and organisation throughout the UK. This fee is set
annually and it currently stands at £145.50 per year per household as of April
2010. The cost of a television licence is set by the government and enforced by
the criminal law. An agreement stating that the licence fee will remain frozen
at its current level until 2017 before the royal chart is renewed was agreed on
between the government and the corporation.
Channel 4 is funded predominantly by advertising and
sponsorship, but unlike some other broadcasters such as ITV, Channel 4 is not
shareholder owned. Channel 4 is a statutory corporation that is independent of
Government, and governed by a unitary board that is made up of executive and
non-executive directors. They are responsible for ensuring that Channel 4
fulfils its remit and delivers its financial responsibilities. Non-executive
directors are appointed by OFCOM in agreement with the Secretary of State for
Culture, Media and Sport. This system ensures a not-for-profit status; All
Profit generated by any commercial activity is directly reinvested back into
the delivery of the public service remit.
Sales &
Distribution
BBC World wide’s Sales & Distribution business is one of
the largest exporters of finalised Television programmes in the world it is
second to the major US companies. In 2011/2012 the distribution business
licenced one hundred thousand hours of programming to over six hundred and
ninety countries worldwide. The Business is growing vastly across all digital
platforms selling more than 9000 hours of programming in the last financial
year. Top gear and Doctor Who are the number one sellers throughout Europe.
Sales & Distribution secures vital funding for new productions at the BBC.
Before the BBC can release programme content on DVD it must
be cleared by the BBFC British board of film classification which was set up in
1912. In 1984 parliament passed the video recording act stating video
recordings offered for sale in the UK must be classified by an authority. The
presidents of the BBFC were designated and charged with applying the new test
of suitability for home viewing.
CONTENT &
PRODUCTION
(BBC)
When commissioning a new programme for broadcast on any of
the 4 main BBC stations there are a series of detailed procedures that need to
take place in order for the programme to get the all clear and start pre-
production. The most important factor in commissioning any programme once
production is completed is making sure that the programme conforms to the UK
broadcasting Act enforced in 1990. Various areas are controlled by this act
which include. Violence levels within the programme, any breaches of good taste
and decency, encouragement or incitement to crime, anything that might lead to
public disorder and anything offensive to public feeling. In 2010 the BBC
received more than 3 thousand complaints about an episode of the twice weekly
drama Waterloo Road which had breached 2 of the UK Broadcasting acts strict
guidelines which included high levels of violence for a television show that
was broadcast well before the watershed. This resulted in Ofcom viewing the
programme and examining whether it was in breach of the broadcasting code.
Ofcom found the episode in breach resulting in it being completely re-edited
for the DVD release of the 2010 season of the programme and an apology being
issued on the programme points of view.
(CHANNEL 4)
As a publisher-broadcaster, Channel 4 is obliged to
commission UK content from the independent production sector. They are a major
investor in the UK's creative economy, working with around 300 creative
companies from all across the UK every year and investing significantly in
training and talent development throughout the industry.
Channel 4's primary purpose is the fulfilment of its public
service remit. The Digital Economy Act 2010 requires Channel 4 to participate
in making of a broad range of relevant media content of high quality that,
taken as a whole, appeals to the tastes and interests of a culturally diverse society.
Making relevant media content that consists of news and current affairs. Making relevant media content that appeal to
the tastes and interests of older children and young adults.
Broadcasting or distribution by means of electronic
communications networks of feature films that reflect cultural activity in the
United Kingdom (including third party films).Promote events intended to secure
that people are well informed and motivated to participate in society in a
variety of ways.
Channel 4 aims to support the development of people with
creative talent, in particular people involved in the film industry and at the
start of their careers. Support and stimulate well-informed debate on a wide
range of issues, including by providing access to information and views from
around the world and by challenging established views. Promote alternative views
and new perspectives, and provide access to material that is intended to
inspire people to make changes in their lives.
The Differences
between
Although the BBC has been around a lot longer than channel 4
its audience figure have gradually grown over the 30 years of its life. With
viewing figures for its top rated
programmes ranging from 4.3 – 5.6 million viewers per episode for programmes
like Shameless, embarrassing bodies, one born every minute and the long running come dine with me. These
figures have risen considerably over the last 6 years with channel 4’s highest
rated programme peaking at 3.1 million viewers in 2006.
A reason for this rise in viewers is the inclusion of
viewers watching from the channel 4 on demand internet player. These are
consolidated with the main audience figures to give its overall total. Unlike
the BBC whose iplayer launched one year after channels 4’s and can only be
viewed by audiences within the UK and Northern Ireland. Channel 4 can gain a
greater amount of viewers watching from overseas.
Another difference is the is the wide range of programmes
targeted at specialist audiences for example channel 4 tends to have more
controversial programs like My Transgender Summer a programme which would never
be found on BBC 1.
The BBC does make similar programs to these the difference
is that they would be broadcasted on the BBC’s digital channel BBC 3 which was
launched in 2003 and replaced BBC choice the first ever BBC digital channel
.Here the programme would have far fewer people watching as the highest rated
program on the channel gets only 830.000 viewers.
The Legal issues
In the BBC there may be occasions when broadcasting
accurate, impartial and fair coverage in the public interest involves possible
conflict with the law. In these cases
the BBC must consider.
What effect breaking the law might have on the BBC.
What the effect might be on the people concerned and
internationally, the effect on the BBC's future coverage of the region.
Any proposal that breaks this law must be referred to a
senior editorial figure, or to the commissioning editor, who may consult
Programme Legal Advice and, if necessary, Director Editorial Policy and
Standards.
Over In Channel 4 the programme advisers in the legal &
compliance department have considerable expertise in dealing with the full
range of media law and regulatory compliance issues. They advise on all
content-related legal and compliance issues in the making and broadcast of
programmes and other content on all Channel 4 platforms, before and after
broadcast. In addition they provide guidance on ethical issues and best
practice in relation to the making and broadcast of the programmes. This
department is involved in legal and compliance training of internal staff and
independent producers, draw up specific guidelines for programmes, series and
genres where needed and are instrumental in the robust defence of programme
content both where complaints are made to Ofcom and where litigation is
threatened. They are also the first point of contact with Ofcom and are
involved in proactive lobbying on legal and regulatory changes affecting
programme content.
OFCOMS ROLE
Ofcom’s responsibilities are wide ranging for both the BBC
and Channel 4 covering all manner of processes. It has a statutory duty to
further the interest of citizens and consumers by promoting competition between
both networks and protecting consumers from harmful or offensive material.
Some of the main area’s over which Ofcom control has are
licensing undertaking research creating codes and policies addressing complaints
and looking into competition.
Another duty Ofcom must deal with is viewer complaints about
programmes in 2004 Ofcom received twenty four complaints about news commentator
John Gibson for stating the BBC had a
frothing at the mouth anti –Americanism that was obsessive irrational and
dishonest. Ofcom held that these statements were untrue opinions based on false
evidence. In January 2007 received over 44,500 complaints regarding the fifth
series of celebrity big brother on channel 4. It involved racial issues
concerning shilpa shetty and Jade Goody. This was Ofcom’s highest ever
complaints response and higher than that of any other media regulation.
Marketing
From the BBC s programme content a massive 76 per cent of it
ends up being sold back to the public on DVD and Blu-ray format after
broadcast. This content is not only sold in the UK but to over 118 other
countries through BBC Worldwide Consumer Products. This is a global producer
and distributor of TV entertainment made within the BBC. In 2011 the business
returned profits of £49.1million from DVD sales alone. The division creates
innovative products that extend fans' enjoyment of their favourite television shows
and is the largest UK-owned publisher of DVD content. It also distributes
content for the UK's top independent producers and broadcasters and produces
specially commissioned content with leading talent under the label 2|entertain.
BBC Consumer Products sells around 50
DVDs around the world, every minute.
This is not the case with the programme content produced by
channel 4 with only 43 per cent of programming making it to DVD release and the
majority of sales taking place directly for channel 4’s online shop. This is
because channel 4 makes a variety of one of programmes such as documentaries
and one off specials that are aimed at very minority audiences and therefore
are only available to purchase from the channel 4 online shop. Channel 4
receives hundreds of thousands calls and emails each year requesting copies of
programmes not available on DVD. Channel 4’s policy is that they do not provide
one-off copies so the only way to view the programme is to watch on the channel
4 DEMAND player online only if it’s available.
BBFC’s ROLE
The BBFC is a highly expert and experience regulator of the
moving image especially film, video/DVD and it is also a service provider for
new and developing media.
Any of the programme content made by the BBC and Channel for
must pass through the BBFC’s examination before it is eligible for release on
DVD or in some countries VHS.
Commercially
Funded VS Royal Charter.
The commercially funded channel 4 with its remit stated to
be more controversial hence their rather unusual but interesting documentaries
and the BBC with its royal charter stating they must cover and broadcast all
national and universal events such as the Olympics who is best. That’s not
really the Issue if it were then the clear winner is the BBC but channel 4 wins
in terms of risk taking putting out quite debatable and provocative material in
its mainstream timeslots introducing audiences to issues that the BBC wouldn’t
dream of addressing on its flagship channel especially in a family timeslot.
With continually growing audiences it’s only a matter of time before channel 4
receives the same high levels of viewership as the BBC.
