The Bookseller.com

8th September 2008

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Children's TV in decline

11.10.07 Caroline Horn

A fresh debate about the future of children's television has been sparked by an Ofcom review showing a steep decline in investment and time dedicated to children's programming.

The research reveals a fall in investment by public service broadcasters. The BBC, ITV1, GMTV, Channel 4 and Five together spent some £163m on original children's programming in 2002 but that had fallen to £109m by 2006.

Last year, just 17% of all children's programming was originated in the UK. Hours broadcast by public channels apart from the BBC have also declined, with ITV1 down by 60% and Five down by 58% over the past decade.

Jocelyn Hay, chair of pressure group VLV (Voice of the Listener & Viewer), said: "Unless swift action is taken to retrieve the situation, future generations will grow up with a Disneyfied view not only of the world, but of their own culture and history."

More than half the parents surveyed want more television to reflect a range of cultures and opinions from around the UK, but there are now fewer drama and factual programmes for older children and teenagers—although preschool programming has grown.

Film and television agent Valerie Hoskins said: "This year we have sold a number of books for animation-based projects but it has been a long time since I signed a fiction title for live children's drama. It is only really the BBC doing this now, and it is only big names that are being signed."

Broadcasters have been hit by falling revenues—down from £178m in 2001 to £141m in 2006—and digital competition. Fifty years ago "Pinky & Perky" attracted 10 million viewers, but the highest-rating children's programme in 2006 ("Newsround") had only two million.

Sally Floyer, m.d. of Penguin's preschool division, said: "Publishers are offered a huge number of properties from across all broadcasting platforms—but not enough properties break through. Publishing television tie-ins is still attractive, but you have to be careful about what you buy."

The research will be used by Ofcom to inform a public service broadcasting review. The first phase, which is due in spring 2008, will outline proposals for future children's programming.

Caroline Horn television children's