Moves to halt decline of kids’ programming
service broadcasters, so they should be providing content that meets children’s needs.”
Anne knows the programmemaking situation only too well as she’s the woman behind some of the biggest series including Rosie And Jim and the Teletubbies.
“The BBC need to be congratulated for what they do, but the industry has been damaged. Children are a special audience and you need to try to see the world from their point of view. I despair at the lack of recognition of the art of children’s TV making.”
This week’s parliamentary function follows the success of the campaign, backed by Baroness Floella Benjamin, in getting an amendment to the Digital Economy Bill in March. It will, in effect, restore Tier 2 status and make compliance with Ofcom’s criteria a condition of broadcasters’ licences.
“We need the MPs to put pressure on Ofcom,” added Anne. “Children are dominated by American culture from Disney and Nickelodeon.
“Not all American programmes are bad, but we are not being given an opportunity to make our own work.
“Even my own grandchild speaks in Americanisms.” IT used to be that there was just a 90-minute window of kids’ TV broadcast every day. But TV is now about immediacy. As well as satellite TV, we have tablets, mobile phones and sites like Amazon and Netflix.
Instead of waiting until
Jared Taylor.
Teletubbies co-creator Anne Wood is concerned by the dominance of US imports. tomorrow or next week for the next episode, children, like adults, binge-watch.
TV used to be a shared family experience, but now it’s more of a solitary activity.
It’s a shame because the best of what we’ve seen from children’s TV over the years has a strand that appeals to parents too.
The Simpsons is a great example, and Peppa Pig which is fantastically well-written.
From the everyday subjects, like going to the dentist and the arrival of a new baby, to exploring gender stereotypes and adult in-jokes, it’s so educational.
It goes back to the heyday, when kids TV was about what was happening in Britain.
There were actually a lot of imports, but they were quite distinctly from their country of