The BBC adapts to changing audience demographics
Public service broadcaster the BBC has reported a shift in audience demographics and viewing preferences, according to its latest annual report released last week.
The BBC is a go-to media brand in the UK, with 95% of adults using its services on average each month. It remains the top source for news in the UK, with 75% of people using it weekly on average.
Additionally, 1.3 million 12-15-year-olds follow the news via the BBC – higher than any other organisation in the country. It is also the only UK provider among the top five most-used media brands for young people.
BBC director general Tim Davie said: “This year’s Annual Report shows how we are transforming at pace to deliver for all audiences in the digital age.
“We remain firmly focused on prioritising our resources into building a BBC for the future that can deliver crucial benefits for the UK at a critical time – and help support a healthy democracy, a thriving creative economy, and a strong society.”
This transformation includes enhancements across various platforms, particularly BBC Sounds and iPlayer, which reported record-breaking performance.
According to the data, people spent an average of 5 hours and 44 minutes per week watching BBC TV or iPlayer – more than all major Subscription Video On Demand (SVOD) streamers combined.
There were also 8.1 billion streaming requests on BBC iPlayer, a 10% increase from the previous year.
Samir Shah, BBC chair, said the BBC continues to be deeply significant to the UK and plays a crucial role globally: “With the board, I look forward to overseeing progress with the solid plans in place to preserve the benefits of public service broadcasting for all and to ensure the BBC can deliver for audiences well into the future.”
According to the report, the BBC contributed nearly £5 billion (over $AUD9.8 billion) to the UK economy last year, with each £1 of the BBC’s direct economic activity generating £2.63 in the wider UK economy.
This data is particularly relevant in the context of changing media consumption habits.
Ofcom, the UK’s communications regulator, found in its annual review less than half of young audiences in the UK now watch broadcast TV weekly. The data found that in 2023, only 48% of 16 to 24-year-olds watched broadcast TV weekly, down from 76% in 2018.
Ofcom’s director of market intelligence, Ian Macrae, said: “Gen Z and Alpha are used to swiping and streaming, not flipping through broadcast TV channels.”
The decline is evident as video-sharing platforms like YouTube gain popularity, the report suggests. Children aged 4 to 15 also watch live and catch-up broadcast TV less frequently, with 55% doing so weekly last year compared to 81% five years ago.
Gen Z viewers engaged with broadcast TV for only 33 minutes a day, down 16% from the previous year, while spending three times longer on platforms like YouTube and TikTok.
Ofcom’s research highlighted a generational divide, with around 95% of audiences over 65 still watching broadcast TV weekly. However, the decline in weekly reach among middle-aged viewers fell from 89% to 84% in 2023.
Despite these trends, major broadcasted events, like the King’s coronation, continue to attract substantial viewership.
“While live TV may not have the universal pull it once did, its role in capturing those big moments that bring the nation together remains vital,” Macrae added.
Subscribe to the daily newsletter
Have your say