Fury as BBC for elderly...
BBC bosses sparked anger yesterday over plans to shift spending away from programmes for older people to attract the young instead.
The move comes after broadcast regulator Ofcom warned the BBC that it risked losing a “generation of viewers”. Research has shown that under half of young people now watch its programmes.
Ofcom said the BBC’s “future sustainability” was under threat unless it found a way to engage with audiences under 40.
In response, BBC director-general Tony Hall revealed it will move its budget away from older audiences and concentrate on shows reflecting “lives and passions” of the young.
Lord Hall said Charlotte Moore, the executive in charge of television content, will redirect a significant part of her budget to programmes that will attract 16 to 34-year-olds.
In a speech to staff, Lord Hall said: “This year Charlotte and her content team are shifting money to change the mix of content on our channels and iPlayer – delivering much more to younger people.
“Programmes that reflect their lives and passions, programmes they can enjoy wherever they choose to watch – live or on demand.This is big, both in terms of hours and money.”
BBC insiders say the move means older viewers are unlikely to see any new programmes commissioned with them in mind.
Mistake
Instead, they will be served by shows with broad appeal across the generations such as His Dark Materials and Killing Eve.
Caroline Abrahams, charity director at Age UK, said: “We understand why the BBC is so keen to appeal to younger audiences, but it’s surely the responsibility of our national broadcaster to ensure it engages people of all ages, including its older viewers and listeners too.
“TV is central to many older people’s lives, as a trusted companion and window on the world. But at a time when the free TV licence for over-75s is under great threat it would be a mistake for any broadcaster to take the support of our older population for granted.”
A leaked internal corporation briefing document at the end of last year warned the level of BBC One and BBC Two viewing among 16 to 34-year-olds was “dangerously close to the brink”.
Also, BBC research found this age group “consistently perceived iPlayer as not being a service for them” and saw its news provision as “boring”.
Sources insisted that shows enjoyed by an
Brown. In 2015 the then Tory Chancellor George Osborne struck a deal with the BBC in which it picked up the bill from 2020/21 as part of charter renewal. But the 2017 Tory manifesto contained a promise to continue the benefit.
Under BBC plans, people over 75 not on pension credit must pay up or face a £1,000 fine or imprisonment.
The decision to scrap the benefit has angered millions, sparking a campaign led by the Daily Express and Age UK.
A petition signed by 634,789 people was delivered to No 10 urging Prime Minister Boris Johnson to keep the perk.
Age UK said: “In just five months time it will be gone. Now is the time to put as much pressure as we can on the PM to save the free TV licence.”
older age group, such as Call The Midwife, Death In Paradise, Last Tango In Paradise and Antiques Roadshow, will continue. A forthcoming programme which the BBC believes will appeal to young and old is Peter Crouch’s Euro Fest 2020, a “live post-match festival where the worlds of comedy, entertainment and football combine”. In October Ofcom said that young people “are critical to the future