Post by Teddy Bear on Nov 16, 2010 22:44:53 GMT
Imagine you had a business, if you don't already. How would you treat your most loyal customers, the ones that have given you most support and funded your business? Would you stop supplying them, or always make sure you keep them well stocked in whatever they wanted?
But you have to have sympathy for the BBC, when they have a dumbed down staff, it's much easier to try and appeal to a dumbed down audience than the more astute among us.
But you have to have sympathy for the BBC, when they have a dumbed down staff, it's much easier to try and appeal to a dumbed down audience than the more astute among us.
BBC1 worries too much about its older viewers... says the channel chief in Countryfile ageism case
By Liz Thomas
Last updated at 9:26 PM on 16th November 2010
The BBC is in danger of having too many shows targeted at its middle-aged viewers, according to the former executive at the centre of the Countryfile age discrimination case.
Former BBC1 chief Jay Hunt also told a viewers’ panel she was taking steps to bring in a younger audience to the channel.
The minutes, from a meeting last year, were disclosed at the sex and age discrimination tribunal brought against the broadcaster by axed Countryfile presenter Miriam O’Reilly.
In the notes, Miss Hunt said she was ‘proud’ to have shows like Countryfile on BBC1 but the channel was in danger of ‘over-catering’ to that audience, which tended to be in its 50s and 60s.
The notes said: 'We are taking steps to make gentle changes to bring in a younger audience.’
Miss O’Reilly’s QC Heather Williams said the remarks highlighted that Miss Hunt wanted Countryfile to appeal to a younger audience and had therefore brought in younger presenters.
Miss Hunt said the idea was ‘utterly insane’. She pointed out that the average age of Songs of Praise viewers was 67, and 59 for Lark Rise to Candleford, which also aired on Sundays.
She added: ‘Sunday night on BBC1 tends to deliver an older audience. It would have been nonsensical to say ... let’s lurch younger for no particular reason.’
Miss Hunt insisted her comment was in relation to BBC1 in general which has ‘quite a lot of programmes that target this specific [over 55] audience’.
But her remarks will confirm what many older viewers have suspected for years – that the BBC is increasingly chasing younger audiences. Miss O’Reilly, then 52, and colleagues Charlotte Smith, then 44, Michaela Strachan, then 42, and Juliet Morris, then 43, were dropped from the Sunday morning show when Countryfile was moved to a prime-time evening slot in 2009.
Miss O’Reilly said she was told her wrinkles would be a problem for the new show, which is shot in high definition, while Miss Smith alleges she was told she was not ‘young and pretty enough’. The show is now hosted by Matt Baker, 32, and Julia Bradbury, 39.
Miss Hunt, who is moving to Channel 4, said Countryfile was ‘highly prized‘ for attracting an older audience. She has been criticised for some decisions taken during her tenure, including axing Strictly Come Dancing judge Arlene Phillips, 67, in favour of Alesha Dixon, 31.
Miss Hunt said the women who left Countryfile did so because they did not have the right prime time profile or presenting abilities.
By Liz Thomas
Last updated at 9:26 PM on 16th November 2010
The BBC is in danger of having too many shows targeted at its middle-aged viewers, according to the former executive at the centre of the Countryfile age discrimination case.
Former BBC1 chief Jay Hunt also told a viewers’ panel she was taking steps to bring in a younger audience to the channel.
The minutes, from a meeting last year, were disclosed at the sex and age discrimination tribunal brought against the broadcaster by axed Countryfile presenter Miriam O’Reilly.
In the notes, Miss Hunt said she was ‘proud’ to have shows like Countryfile on BBC1 but the channel was in danger of ‘over-catering’ to that audience, which tended to be in its 50s and 60s.
The notes said: 'We are taking steps to make gentle changes to bring in a younger audience.’
Miss O’Reilly’s QC Heather Williams said the remarks highlighted that Miss Hunt wanted Countryfile to appeal to a younger audience and had therefore brought in younger presenters.
Miss Hunt said the idea was ‘utterly insane’. She pointed out that the average age of Songs of Praise viewers was 67, and 59 for Lark Rise to Candleford, which also aired on Sundays.
She added: ‘Sunday night on BBC1 tends to deliver an older audience. It would have been nonsensical to say ... let’s lurch younger for no particular reason.’
Miss Hunt insisted her comment was in relation to BBC1 in general which has ‘quite a lot of programmes that target this specific [over 55] audience’.
But her remarks will confirm what many older viewers have suspected for years – that the BBC is increasingly chasing younger audiences. Miss O’Reilly, then 52, and colleagues Charlotte Smith, then 44, Michaela Strachan, then 42, and Juliet Morris, then 43, were dropped from the Sunday morning show when Countryfile was moved to a prime-time evening slot in 2009.
Miss O’Reilly said she was told her wrinkles would be a problem for the new show, which is shot in high definition, while Miss Smith alleges she was told she was not ‘young and pretty enough’. The show is now hosted by Matt Baker, 32, and Julia Bradbury, 39.
Miss Hunt, who is moving to Channel 4, said Countryfile was ‘highly prized‘ for attracting an older audience. She has been criticised for some decisions taken during her tenure, including axing Strictly Come Dancing judge Arlene Phillips, 67, in favour of Alesha Dixon, 31.
Miss Hunt said the women who left Countryfile did so because they did not have the right prime time profile or presenting abilities.