Institutionsal research

Task: Research E4 and BBC 3 - two channels that boast similar target audience to your brief. For EACH channel research the following:


Channel history
When did it start broadcasting? What was the critical reception? Any controversial moments? What genre of programmes is the channel best known for?

Notable successes
What TV programmes have been most successful for the channel? Why do you think they were so successful? Are any of these programmes similar to your idea for a new TV programme?

Target audience
Look carefully online and you'll find a detailed breakdown of the target audience. For example, E4 has an excellent sales webpage that contains links to incredibly informative Powerpoint documents that outline E4's target audience and key statistics in great detail.

Write up the demographic breakdown of the channel's target audience. Once you have done that, write an analysis of the target audience stating what psychographic groups might watch the channel and also what brands or lifestyle choices viewers would be interested in.

E4:
Start of broadcast:
E4 began transmission on 18 January 2001 at 8.30pm with a night hosted by Ali G.

Critical reception:
New Girl - critical reception 5.3
 
2007: Big Brother Row
The allegedly racist bullying of Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty by her fellow Celebrity Big Brother housemates provoked an international incident. Channel 4 bosses defended the programme, saying it was "a good thing" it had provoked a debate. Questions were raised in Parliament, effigies were burned in India and crowds were banned from attending Jade Goody's eviction. But Ofcom ruled the station had breached its code of conduct and ordered it to make a number of on-air apologies.
Historical and drama programmes.

One of the most successful TV programmes that E4 have launched currently, is Hollyoaks(one of my favourites)
Hollyoaks
Hollyoaks is a teen drama set within the village of Hollyoaks following the lives of each character within it, making it a multi-strand narrative soap.
In particular being a holly oaks fan myself, I've noticed that they usually have major epic episodes that cause the most unexpected chaos within the show. The effect of the one episode carries on throughout a number of episodes. The mayhem highlighted in the episode really grasps the audience and continues on word of mouth through social sites etc. as it usually ends on a cliffhanger. The show has been around since 1995- so over the year they have got a growing family of a wide based loyal audience, that continues to grow.
Each relate-able episode lures in even new-comers to their audience base, so you can jump into any episode and be lured in through the usually twisted yet interesting narratives.
For my idea I initially wanted to go with the whole teen drama theme but then again, I was consdiering doing a documentary styled programme. It is a different approach and definitely a diffuclt one because this can either go horribly wrong or brilliantly. 
Notable success:
-The Inbetweeners
-The Big Bang Theory
-Friends
-Big Brother 

Age:
-Under 18s (63%)
-18-24 (29%)
-25-34 (5%)
-35-44 (2%)
-45-54 (1%)
-55+ (0%) 

Gender:
-Female (59%)  
-Male (41%) 

BBC3:

Start of broadcast
Their plan was for BBC Knowledge to be renamed BBC Four, and indeed this took place in 2002, and for BBC Choice to be renamed BBC Three.

Critical reception
4.2/4.1

Drama, documentaries and comedy

Notable success:
- Doctor who
- Eastenders
- Spendaholics

Age:
16 to 34-year olds
But In 2008 it reached 26.3% of 16–34-year-olds in digital home.