however funded through commercial revenue were they receive funding
for selling airtime to advertisers. With this money they either make or
buy programmes to fit in with their boasting ethos of it being “the
biggest” commercial television network in UK broadcasting. ITV
suggests it is the most talked about television, making a major
contribution to the UK’s culture, economy and communities”. Although
they make a fair amount of drama’s such as The Bill, Prime Suspect, etc I
believe they are mostly made with only commercial aspects in mind and
not a good combination of aesthetic aspects. I believe this would reduce
the intake of innovative and somewhat commercially risky projects, this
may be due to advertising agencies dictating their programme schedule to
fit with their advertising schedule or because they believe risqué content
could discontinue their role as “biggest” commercial UK network.
When BBC2 was launched it was made up as a mixed-genre channel
combining serious factual subjects with comedy and drama to bring
challenging, intelligent television to a wide audience. Ambition and
innovation are BBC Two’s key values, and the channel aims to create
programmes that inspire and excite audiences. This to me would seem as
good a choice as any to distribute dramas such as ours, however the BBC
is self-regulatory and does not take risks especially risks which may be
morally reprehensible or show deplorable acts of violence, bad language,
etc.
The terrestrial channel that I believe is the ideal institution for our
crime drama is Channel 4 as it is more likely to consider a project like
ours as it is more risky. Channel 4 was launched in 1982 and its aim is to
provide high quality innovative programming that is experimental,
creative and appeals to the tastes and interests of a culturally diverse
society. This risk taking yet dynamic approach to broadcasting is very
appealing to watch for the channels youth audience which ties in to our
key audience and the audience I am part of. The majority of its
programming comes from independent production companies it is likely
that a crime drama of a bitterly realistic and graphic nature such as ours
would be approached by this risk taking institution. Channel 4’s ethos is
to “Do it first, be controversial, provocative, thought provoking and to
inspire change”, this also adds to the appeal of the channel when
compared to others its commitment to push the envelope would intrigue
potential audiences to watch. I believe Channel 4 is maybe the only
terrestrial channel able to keep and project its identity and reputation as a
diverse, innovative and non conformist channel in the digital multi-
channel world, simply because it dares to be different and risky and most
importantly is in tune with its audience and can keep up and even stay
ahead of what its audience wants, however it will have to group its ideas
from its core audience and project them across other platforms and genres
to create a sustainable presence in competition with multi-channel and
satellite super companies such as British Sky Broadcasting Group
(BSkyB).
It’s mission as a British institution in television is to prove that a
channel with no public funding can keep its public service values to the
fore while remaining commercially competitive. It is funded through
advertising similarly to ITV, however different to ITV’s focus on profit
and network statistics rather than audience feedback. Channel 4’s focus
is on audience entertainment i.e. putting the audiences and their demands
first.
A large portion of Channel 4’s output is bought shows from
America and some of it representative of Britain’s multi-cultural society,
so it does have something to appeal to almost all people of Britain,
audience feedback from the channels annual review included these
quotes:-
“They take a gamble, and push for your entertainment, regardless.”
“A while ago you would never have or heard half these programmes.
They’re getting brave at pushing edges a bit further, that Under the knife
with Miss Evans– it made my toes curl.”
“The documentaries are near the knuckle… the eating disorder one…
the man who chose to die. I don’t want to watch them but I have to.”
The audience however is very broad as the channels content varies
depending on day and time, during weekdays 9 till 5 the output is rarely
challenging or innovative in broadcasting terms all the time evident in
programmes such as Countdown, Time Team, etc at night the more
controversial, entertaining and provocative programmes are aired and
would suit a wide age group and people of an independent nature.
This channel to me suits our project more as it is a more subversive,
provocative and risqué in terms of content and aesthetic properties that
other channels wouldn’t consider and ultimately our drama is ideal as it
also appeals to a wide age group, also as our drama is similar to The
Sopranos it is also a strong indication that our text would be ideal for the
channel.
