When Ofcom became the independent, external regulator of the BBC it published its proposals for how it would hold the BBC to account and and invited public feedback regarding increased targets for, among other things, the amount of religious programming on TV. It was their intention, they said to ” safeguard vulnerable genres such as arts, music, and religious programmes”.
Their own research had shown that audiences consider programming in these areas as important but noted “some are in decline”. So they have called for higher requirements for BBC One and BBC Two to show programmes in these genres: “At least 115 hours of religious programmes across the two channels combined”.
My summary of Ofcom’s summary of findings from its public consultation and as they relates to religious programming is as follows:
– 27% of respondents see religious programming as a genre with “high societal value” (compared to 68% for current affairs, 62% for education, 56% children’s programmes, 51% comedy, 48% arts and culture) but the genre is still “valued by its viewers” – i.e. proportionately, people who watch religious programming think it’s as important as many of the others. (ref. p 32)
– Women and BAME viewers are more likely than average to say religious programming is important. (ref p 31)
– Religious programming scored lowest when viewers were asked to say whether the BBC does well in the genre – only 41% of religious programming viewers rated the BBC’s performance highly. 13% gave it the lowest mark they could. (ref. p 33)
All of which is interesting and some of which might provoke a discussion on the role religious programming plays in promoting religious literacy across all programme genres and across the UK’s different communities.
You can read a summary of Ofcom’s findings and find out more about its first BBC operating licence on their website.
