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Ofcom initiated the review of children’s television programming in response to a number of consumer and market changes. These include an increase in the range of media available to many children and a growing number of dedicated children’s channels, as well as changes in the way children consume media. As a result, traditional commercial public service broadcasters are facing significant pressures on their ability to fund original programming for children.

These changes are occurring in the context of a new framework for the regulation of children’s programming, set out in the Communications Act 2003. Since the Act, ITV1, which had historically played a role in delivering a strong alternative voice to the BBC in terms of children’s programmes, has significantly reduced its commitments to children’s programming. This development, together with the other consumer and market changes outlined above, has led many to ask how public service children’s programming can continue to be delivered in the future.

The Communications Act requires Ofcom to report on the fulfilment of the public service broadcasters’ public service remit at least once every five years and to make recommendations with a view to maintaining and strengthening the quality of public service broadcasting in the future. In preparation for Ofcom’s second full public service broadcasting review, Ofcom has concentrated on the children’s programming aspects of public service broadcasting, focusing on the future prospects for delivery of a wide range of high quality and original content for children.

Ofcom’s report on the Future of Children’s Television Programming was published on 3 October 2007 and sets out in full the findings from our research. As part of that report, Ofcom commissioned independent research agency, Attentional, to forecast potential viewing levels to children’s television until digital switchover in 2012 and the composition of viewing of children’s channels and slots within this, based on three possible scenarios for changes in the provision of children’s programming. This annex sets out the findings from Attentional’s research.

The full document is available below

• Forecasting scenarios for children’s television to 2012 - An independent research report by Attentional [pdf]
  Full Print Version

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