Counting audiences (Television)

You cannot pitch an idea without knowledge of your audience in terms of scheduling, broadcast flow and most importantly how many people will watch, read or listen to your product.

You need to understand the market in which you hope to compete.

Start with a general trawl through the overnight tv ratings fo the last month to find some interesting stories.

This is quantitative research which will re-inforce your arguments as you can compare your product with similar existing media artefacts.

On The Guardian web-site you will find a media section and areas for press, radio and television as well as film. In all areas there is comment about ratings and audience reception.

Hopefullly you become a habitual user of this web-site which is invaluable for media students.

For example, this link takes you to a discussion of Dr Who and Saturday evening television. You should be interested in and keeping abreast of contemporary issues. This week Dr Who is moving in the schedules to a later slot to accommodate Strictly Come Dancing.   Look at the figures and make judgments based on the data. 

• X Factor and Strictly are in a ratings war on Saturday nights during the Autumn
• Dr Who has gone from 7 million to 5 million viewers since the first episode with Peter Capaldi

Use the BARB web-site to gain a further understanding of television audiences and how they are measured. 

'BARB measures the television viewing (including viewing through computers) of a panel of over 5,100 households are selected to accurately represent the UK's population.'

Broadcasting Audience Research Board


BBC 1

• 10.1 million - British Bake Off
• 7 million - Dr Who
• 6.8 million - Eastenders (Tuesday)

Collect data and outline what your reserach findings reveal.

Look at similar products to the one that you are making and gain knowledge of the market


Before you say I am doing a music video and there is no data', drill down on the BARB web-site to find your niche.  For example, 35,000 people watched 'Crazy Fall Out Boy' videos on Saturday 6pm.


As this quote explains you may have to look at less taditional distribution and exhibition models for short films. However, you should find the exercise informative and will allow you to gain a wider kowldge of the broadcast media.

'In the UK, there are not many short film buyers for traditional TV outlets. Terrestrial channels rarely acquire and schedule non-commissioned short films. Channel 4 / FilmFour will occasionally acquire shorts as prefeature programming, or as part of a film season, where the selected shorts will fit their thematic focus. The BBC at present, only regularly exhibits shorts online (via Film Network), though the Film Network team are working hard to try and change that! Shorts programmes may also appear from time to time on the BBC digital channels BBC3 and BBC4.'(Film Network)