Channel 4 has requirements to provide distinctive programming that reflects UK culture through shows like Gavin and Stacey, while staying within watershed hours and content restrictions. It is commercially funded through advertising compared to the BBC which is funded by the license fee. E4 targets 16-34 year olds with trendy programming like Pretty Awesome Thursdays featuring American sitcoms. In contrast, BBC3 provides innovative content for younger audiences focusing on new UK talent. Scheduling shows in prime time helps attract the target audience, but on demand services reduce the importance of prime time slots.

1. Regulatory
Requirements
Public Service
Broadcasting
Channel 4 has a specific remit
for innovation,education
programming and
distinctiveness
Meets PSB requirements by
reflecting uk cultural identity
with stereotypes of people
from Essex and Wales.
Watershed and limitations
on content
The Watershed for channel for is 9pm and itends at 5:30am, the
watershed for BBC is Identically thesame as Channel 4. The
limitations arethatthey arenot allowed to show Harm & Offence,
Violence & Dangerous Behaviour, offensivelanguageand sex &
Nudity. The firstfew series of Gavin and Stacey were on at 9pm,
justafter the Watershed, probably becauseof the useof some
offensive languageand nudity.
Requirement for British
(or regional) programming
No regional programmingatall.
Some national programming
but mainly broughtin
international (American)
programmes.
However, Channel 4 is a PSB
channel.
Must provide National AND
regional services.Regional news
programmes throughout the
country. Some international
programming but limited.
Funding (License fee vs
commercial funding)
Channel 4 is commercially
funded. They will get all their
fundingfrom sellingcertain
time slots to advertisers.They
make some of their own
programming but also buy
many American televisions
shows.
The BBC is funded by the
License Fee. This is paid by all
households in the UK with a TV
and costs 145.50 per year. This
means the BBC have an
obligation to providequality
programming that appeals to all
UK residents.
Channel Brand
Identity
Channel ethos and history E4 launched as a pay-TV
channel on 18th January 2001.
The "E" stands for
entertainment, and the channel
is mainly aimed atthe 16–34
age group. Parent channel,
Channel 4 was founded Nov 2nd
1982.
BBC3 launched 9th Feb 2003 as
a rival to E4 and ITV2 as they
also have16-34 year olds as
their target audience. Parent
channel BBC1 was founded in
1925.
Channel brand identity
(eg. Other programming
or how the channel
markets themselves)
The E in E4 stands for
‘entertainment’. E4s identity is
trendy and casual.‘Pretty
Awesome Thursdays’has been
branded at the new comedy
lineup on Thursdays on E4. It
starts with TBBT at 8pm and
ends with 2 Broke Girls at
10pm, as a lineup of American
Sitcoms (How I Met Your
BBC3 provides innovative
content to younger audiences,
focusing on new UK talent and
new technologies. The
reputation on the BBC means
that BBC1 is generally
considered more sophisticated
and mature in nature. Other
comedy shows on BBC3 include
“Little Britain”,“Russell

2. Mother, The New Normal and 2
Broke Girls).TBBT leads the
lineup as E4 plan to reel in the
target audience.
Howard’s Good News”, and
American programmingsuch as
“Family Guy” and “American
Dad”
Audience
Mass or niche (make some
judgements on audience)
When compared to Channel 4,
E4 is nicheas itappeals to a
younger target audience.
BBC 3 (where the firstseries
began) is similar to E4 as itis for
a niche target audience.But
BBC 1 (where Series 2 and 3
were screened) attracts more of
a mass audience.
Audience figures 1,811,000 viewers of Series 6,
Episode14 on Thursday 8th May
2013 at 8pm
543,000- FirstepisodeSunday
18th May 20017 at 9pm on
BBC3. Series Two and Three
screened on BBC1 – last
episode had 10.2million viewers
Scheduling
Days and times of
transmission
Series 6 – episode14 –
Thursday 2nd May – 8pm.
Series1 - episode 1 – Sunday
13th – May 2007 – 9pm
Programmes that were
scheduled:
-before and after
-at the same time on other
channels
= evaluate how these slots
would attract a target
audience
BEFORE:
19:30 How I Met Your Mother
(Repeat)
THE PROGRAMME:
The Big Bang Theory
AFTER:
How I Met Your Mother (New
series)
AT THE SAME TIME:
4music – Kourteny and Kim take
new york 20:00
Film4 – the hunt for red
October 18:15
Channel 4 – Secret eaters 20:00
BEFORE:
19:20 Sweet home Alabama
The PROGRAMME:
21:00 Gavin & Stacey
AFTER:
21:30 Gavin & Stacey
AT THE SAME TIME:
BBC 1 – Dalziel and Pascoe
21:00
BBC 2 – Supergrass 21:00
BBC 4 – More Dawn French’s
girls who do comedy 21:00
Role of scheduling in a
multi-channel
environment
+1 AND ON DEMAND SERVICES
EFFECT SCHEDULING. THEY
ALLOW PEOPLE TO WATCH
SHOWS AT LATER TIMES AND
THEREFOR MAKES ‘PRIME TIME’
LESS IMPORTANT AND LESS
COMPETITVE.
E4 has a +1 channel and often
plays repeats of it’s
programming throughout the
day. All channel 4 channels also
repeat programmingon their
onlineservice,‘4 On Demand’
+1 AND ON DEMAND SERVICES
EFFECT SCHEDULING. THEY
ALLOW PEOPLE TO WATCH
SHOWS AT LATER TIMES AND
THEREFOR MAKES ‘PRIME TIME’
LESS IMPORTANT AND LESS
COMPETITVE.
BBC does not have +1 channels
but has the online,on demand
service,‘BBC iPlayer’