Post by Teddy Bear on Mar 22, 2010 21:15:52 GMT
The story speaks for itself in regard to the ageist policy of the BBC which we have covered here before. What is also noteworthy is the BBC response to the figures quoted when they state:
It strikes me how quick they are to see a poll as perhaps unfair when it is applied to themselves, but blinkard when it comes to doing the same when accusing others. Perhaps if they did, we would not have to monitor their biased output.
A BBC spokesman said: ....we do not believe that a one-week sample study is an accurate reflection of the BBC's output throughout the year.
It strikes me how quick they are to see a poll as perhaps unfair when it is applied to themselves, but blinkard when it comes to doing the same when accusing others. Perhaps if they did, we would not have to monitor their biased output.
BBC in fresh ageism row as just one in five presenters is over 50
By Daily Mail Reporter
BBC1 has shown a lower proportion of older talent on the channel than its commercial rival ITV1, according to a study released yesterday.
A week-long survey found that one in five or 20% of presenters and actors seen on BBC1 were aged over 50, compared with 27% on ITV1.
The commercial channel also featured more over-50s on its news and current affairs programmes than BBC1 - 31% versus BBC1's 28%.
BBC2 came out top following research into BBC1, BBC2, ITV1, Channel 4 and Five in terms of how often older faces were seen.
Researchers found 37% of actors and presenters shown on BBC2 - more than a third - were in the over-50 age group.
On Channel 4, 12% of presenters and actors were found to be over 50.
Five had none, although researchers urged caution as only 16 people could be observed on that channel due to a high number of programmes which had to be excluded from the survey, including films and imports.
Of the male presenters and actors on BBC1, 22% were found to be over 50. This figure dropped to 18% for their female equivalents.
On ITV1 29% of male presenters and actors screened were over 50 compared with 24% in the female category for the channel.
The survey was commissioned by residential care provider Anchor.
Anchor chief executive Jane Ashcroft said: 'It is scandalous that the over-50s are not represented more fairly on television, particularly when they are the fastest growing demographic in this country.
'Rather than condemning older presenters and actors to the scrap heap, it is time for television executives to embrace the wealth of talent and experience they can offer.'
The BBC denied accusations of ageism after replacing Strictly Come Dancing judge Arlene Phillips with former winner Alesha Dixon.
Newsreader Moira Stewart
In September, it was revealed that the BBC was seeking an older female newsreader.
Research company PCP examined the ages of presenters during February 20 to 27.
Shows were monitored round the clock, but some programmes such as imports, repeats, films and regional output were excluded.
The analysis is based on those for whom a date of birth could be found, amounting to 84% of the talent observed.
A separate observation was taken for each programme in which a particular presenter such as a newsreader appeared, so the same person was often counted several times.
Programmes were monitored irrespective of their length and no attempt was made to weight the results by screen time.
Researchers also polled 1,020 adults online to examine perceptions of older people.
From a list of 11 shows, Coronation Street, Emmerdale and Deal or No Deal were the most favoured in their depictions of older people.
Top Gear and The X-Factor were perceived most unfavourably in this respect.
Veteran BBC presenter Sir David Attenborough came out top as the media personality portraying older people most positively, followed by respected news man Sir Trevor McDonald and Strictly Come Dancing host Bruce Forsyth.
BBC1 and BBC2 were also more likely than other channels in the survey to be seen as giving a positive impression of older people.
Those aged 50 or over were more likely to feel that none of the television channels depicted a positive impression of older people (22% of those aged 50 or over felt this way compared with only 9% of those aged under 50).
Game shows were more likely than other categories of programme to be fronted by people aged 50 or over.
Almost one third (30%) of game show presenters were aged 65 or over and three quarters (75%) were aged 50 or over.
John Humphrys, Anne Robinson, Jeremy Paxman, Jeff Stelling and Noel Edmonds were among the older game show presenters noted by the researchers.
A BBC spokesman said: 'Whilst we welcome any research into our output, and are pleased that BBC2 has been identified as having the highest representation of older people in UK broadcast media, we do not believe that a one-week sample study is an accurate reflection of the BBC's output throughout the year.
'The reality is that we have a very wide range of artists on the BBC including presenters and actors such as Sheila Hancock, Arlene Phillips, Sir David Attenborough and Julia Somerville as well as other new faces who we hope will be with us for years to come.'
By Daily Mail Reporter
BBC1 has shown a lower proportion of older talent on the channel than its commercial rival ITV1, according to a study released yesterday.
A week-long survey found that one in five or 20% of presenters and actors seen on BBC1 were aged over 50, compared with 27% on ITV1.
The commercial channel also featured more over-50s on its news and current affairs programmes than BBC1 - 31% versus BBC1's 28%.
BBC2 came out top following research into BBC1, BBC2, ITV1, Channel 4 and Five in terms of how often older faces were seen.
Researchers found 37% of actors and presenters shown on BBC2 - more than a third - were in the over-50 age group.
On Channel 4, 12% of presenters and actors were found to be over 50.
Five had none, although researchers urged caution as only 16 people could be observed on that channel due to a high number of programmes which had to be excluded from the survey, including films and imports.
Of the male presenters and actors on BBC1, 22% were found to be over 50. This figure dropped to 18% for their female equivalents.
On ITV1 29% of male presenters and actors screened were over 50 compared with 24% in the female category for the channel.
The survey was commissioned by residential care provider Anchor.
Anchor chief executive Jane Ashcroft said: 'It is scandalous that the over-50s are not represented more fairly on television, particularly when they are the fastest growing demographic in this country.
'Rather than condemning older presenters and actors to the scrap heap, it is time for television executives to embrace the wealth of talent and experience they can offer.'
The BBC denied accusations of ageism after replacing Strictly Come Dancing judge Arlene Phillips with former winner Alesha Dixon.
Newsreader Moira Stewart
In September, it was revealed that the BBC was seeking an older female newsreader.
Research company PCP examined the ages of presenters during February 20 to 27.
Shows were monitored round the clock, but some programmes such as imports, repeats, films and regional output were excluded.
The analysis is based on those for whom a date of birth could be found, amounting to 84% of the talent observed.
A separate observation was taken for each programme in which a particular presenter such as a newsreader appeared, so the same person was often counted several times.
Programmes were monitored irrespective of their length and no attempt was made to weight the results by screen time.
Researchers also polled 1,020 adults online to examine perceptions of older people.
From a list of 11 shows, Coronation Street, Emmerdale and Deal or No Deal were the most favoured in their depictions of older people.
Top Gear and The X-Factor were perceived most unfavourably in this respect.
Veteran BBC presenter Sir David Attenborough came out top as the media personality portraying older people most positively, followed by respected news man Sir Trevor McDonald and Strictly Come Dancing host Bruce Forsyth.
BBC1 and BBC2 were also more likely than other channels in the survey to be seen as giving a positive impression of older people.
Those aged 50 or over were more likely to feel that none of the television channels depicted a positive impression of older people (22% of those aged 50 or over felt this way compared with only 9% of those aged under 50).
Game shows were more likely than other categories of programme to be fronted by people aged 50 or over.
Almost one third (30%) of game show presenters were aged 65 or over and three quarters (75%) were aged 50 or over.
John Humphrys, Anne Robinson, Jeremy Paxman, Jeff Stelling and Noel Edmonds were among the older game show presenters noted by the researchers.
A BBC spokesman said: 'Whilst we welcome any research into our output, and are pleased that BBC2 has been identified as having the highest representation of older people in UK broadcast media, we do not believe that a one-week sample study is an accurate reflection of the BBC's output throughout the year.
'The reality is that we have a very wide range of artists on the BBC including presenters and actors such as Sheila Hancock, Arlene Phillips, Sir David Attenborough and Julia Somerville as well as other new faces who we hope will be with us for years to come.'