Our role and purpose, objectives and highlights
Category: Performance
It was a strong year for BBC Television in an increasingly competitive landscape with changing audience viewing habits putting our reach figures under some pressure.
Over the coming months we’re making programmes even more distinctive with high impact drama, natural history and major national events. And, as the media world changes rapidly and audience expectations get ever higher, we’re working hard to ensure quality, distinctiveness and innovation across all our output.
Danny Cohen, Director, Television
Serving all audiences
Whilst BBC Television aims to stimulate and delight audiences across the UK we recognise we still need to work harder to reach a young, more diverse audience. From the factual Wonders of Life to distinctive drama Peaky Blinders, from comedy hit Mrs Brown’s Boys to entertainment in Strictly Come Dancing we look to offer something for everyone. Millions came together to enjoy The Voice and The Great British Bake Off and distinctive new programmes included The Story of the Jews, Citizen Khan, The Call Centre, Stephen Fry’s Out There, the live one-off musical from Bradford City Centre – Bollywood Carmen – along with coverage of the Winter Olympics – all attracting diverse audiences.
Creative excellence
There were many standout programmes in 2013/14 reflected in the number of awards won by BBC Television. However, audiences’ expectations continue to be very high and we are committed to raising the quality bar ever higher. Sherlock’s launch on New Year’s Day was watched by 12.7 million viewers and audiences were thrilled with James Corden’s The Wrong Mans, Jane Campion’s Top of the Lake, and Burton and Taylor starring Dominic West and Helena Bonham Carter.
Distinctive thought-provoking content
We aim to provide educational and stimulating content for all audiences. The very best blue chip factual of Brian Cox’s Wonders of Life sat alongside popular innovation like The Great British Sewing Bee and It’s A Mad World – a powerful season looking at young people and mental health on BBC Three. The best arts, music and cultural programmes are increasingly delivered through partnership projects: Written on Skin with the Royal Opera House; Handmade alongside the V&A; and a star-studded performance celebrating the 50th birthday of the National Theatre.
Looking forward
Our commemoration of WW1 continues with David Olusoga’s World’s War documentary series and major event coverage in August 2014. New drama includes adaptations by Hilary Mantel and Susanna Clarke and there’ll be new comedy from Peter Kay and Matt Lucas. Life Story is a major new natural history series for BBC One. We’ll see more collaboration between BBC Four and BBC Two, including a focus on the art and music of the 18th century. BBC Four is taking a lead role in BBC Arts at… a major new initiative to take our arts coverage across the UK, and as we look to reinvent BBC Three as an online service, the channel remains committed to factual and current affairs with a season on crime and punishment as well as new comedy, Siblings.
Serving all audiences
- 99.6% of the UK population watched BBC television for at least 15 minutes during 2013 and on average people in the UK watch for almost nine hours a week.
- Doctor Who: The Day of the Doctor was the most viewed drama with an average audience of 12.8 million, while on iPlayer it was the most requested drama episode in 2013 with more than 3.2 million requests.
Quality and distinctiveness
- The BBC won a total of 16 BAFTAs over the last year (this includes Film, Television & Craft)
As the media world changes rapidly and audience expectations get ever higher, we’re working hard to ensure quality, distinctiveness and innovation across all our output.
