The BBC's Children's Programming Crisis: A Call for Action
The BBC's director of children's and education, Patricia Hidalgo, has raised alarm bells about the state of children's television in the UK. In a recent report, she highlighted an 'alarming decline' in investment and original content from major broadcasters, including the BBC, ITV, Channel 4, and Channel 5. Over the past 14 years, investment has plummeted by 40%, falling below £80 million, while the amount of original content has halved to less than 400 hours.
Hidalgo warns that this trend poses a significant threat to British children's content. She argues that domestic commissioning has decreased, global players are not investing in UK stories for UK kids, and production companies are facing mounting pressure. Without intervention, the next generation may grow up without the culturally rich, educationally valuable, and imaginative content they deserve.
The report also emphasizes the role of children's shows in combating misinformation and fake news, with examples like Newsround. The BBC's adaptation of Enid Blyton's The Famous Five and the popularity of Hey Duggee and Horrible Histories demonstrate the enduring appeal of quality children's programming.
However, the report criticizes rival broadcasters for their lack of commitment to younger audiences. Channel 4 has not commissioned a children's show in decades, ITV has shut down its children's channel and ceased commissioning, and Channel 5's output is limited to the preschool segment. Even streaming giants like YouTube, Netflix, and Disney+ are accused of failing to provide British stories, with US companies investing only 12 hours of children's content in the UK last year.
To address this crisis, Hidalgo calls for enhanced tax credits to support the sector and a shared responsibility among businesses interested in attracting children's audiences. Oli Hyatt, a producer behind popular BBC shows, echoes these sentiments, urging the BBC to prioritize children's programming despite budget constraints. Greg Childs, from the Children's Media Foundation, emphasizes the need for social media giants to promote BBC children's content more prominently, as current algorithms prioritize attention-grabbing content over educational value.
