Viewing Habit
Contents
Foreword / Executive summary / How? / What? / When? / Where? / What next? / References
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TeleScope
A focus on the nation’s viewing habits from TV Licensing
Contents
Foreword / Executive summary / How? / What? / When? / Where? / What next? / References
2 < >
Foreword
Television today creates an environment which is largely imperceptible for the simple reason that we are so immersed in it. This report from TV Licensing, which I am pleased to introduce, makes us aware of this environment by asking the right questions, dividing television into parts to help us understand “what is going on”. For me, television has three main components; its technology, its content, and its effects as a medium. When my grandfather John Logie Baird famously unveiled the world’s first working television system in early 1926, people were astonished. Although cinema and radio were established by 1926, television still seemed like science fiction. Since that giant leap, technology has never stopped advancing and today we are witnessing faster developments than ever before. The part of the television industry which makes programmes has found itself in a radically different situation from that of 10 or 20 years ago. Because of new technology and altered business models, this has meant the decline of some programme formats while evoking new ones. A few formats are experiencing a resurgence of popularity. One which comes to mind is “the talent show”, but the main change has been that there are far fewer technical restrictions, and therefore a considerably greater choice of programmes to watch overall. The medium of television has changed too. In profound ways, television builds collective identities via mass amplification of experience and memory, while influencing individual creativity. It invites us into other worlds so that we may escape the hectic pace of our own. It expands our understanding of the world stage and the roles we can play in it. There is no
Foreword / Executive summary / How? / What? / When? / Where? / What next? / References
< >
TeleScope
A focus on the nation’s viewing habits from TV Licensing
Contents
Foreword / Executive summary / How? / What? / When? / Where? / What next? / References
2 < >
Foreword
Television today creates an environment which is largely imperceptible for the simple reason that we are so immersed in it. This report from TV Licensing, which I am pleased to introduce, makes us aware of this environment by asking the right questions, dividing television into parts to help us understand “what is going on”. For me, television has three main components; its technology, its content, and its effects as a medium. When my grandfather John Logie Baird famously unveiled the world’s first working television system in early 1926, people were astonished. Although cinema and radio were established by 1926, television still seemed like science fiction. Since that giant leap, technology has never stopped advancing and today we are witnessing faster developments than ever before. The part of the television industry which makes programmes has found itself in a radically different situation from that of 10 or 20 years ago. Because of new technology and altered business models, this has meant the decline of some programme formats while evoking new ones. A few formats are experiencing a resurgence of popularity. One which comes to mind is “the talent show”, but the main change has been that there are far fewer technical restrictions, and therefore a considerably greater choice of programmes to watch overall. The medium of television has changed too. In profound ways, television builds collective identities via mass amplification of experience and memory, while influencing individual creativity. It invites us into other worlds so that we may escape the hectic pace of our own. It expands our understanding of the world stage and the roles we can play in it. There is no
References: Data: BARB (Broadcasters Audience Research Board) – TV viewing statistics BBC – audience research statistics (including BBC iPlayer data) GfK Retail and Technology –GB Panelmarket Flat TV sales statistics; Regional Statistics exclude online sales and sales by Mail Order Houses and Pure Online Players TV Licensing/ICM poll – conducted online for TV Licensing in December 2010 and January 2011. Sample size was 2,066 UK adults. TV Licensing – TV Licences in force With thanks to: Iain Logie Baird, National Media Museum Professor Ian Hutchby, University of Leicester Richard Lindsay-Davies, Director General, Digital TV Group Matt Locke, Head of Cross Platform, Channel 4 Stephen Poliakoff, writer and director Ben Preston, editor, Radio Times Dr Brian Young, media psychologist, University of Exeter