Channel Research

After researching different television channels known for showing documentaries such as BBC, Channel 4 and Channel 5, we decided on Channel 4.

This channel frequently show documentaries in the time slots of 7pm-8pm and 8pm-9pm and, since our target audience is teenagers and young adults, the 8-9pm slot would be most suitable.

More suitable still, Channel 4 have released information that the highest percentage of their audience members are aged between 16-34.

Channel 4’s website states how they attempt to focus on the contemporary world and so, reflect this in their documentaries. We consider our issue a modern topic for which Channel 4 would be more suitable than something such as the BBC which largely focuses on history and nature documentaries.

This is one reason why the target audience for channel four is young compared to other documentary channels.

Channel 4 Documentary Examples

Documentaries such as Educating Yorkshire aim to show realistic,

contemporary stories, often shown through the 'fly on the wall'

technique.

They like new, interesting ideas and sometimes controversial topics such as 'The Paedophile Next Door' and 'Benefits Street'

Gripping, shocking programmes eg. '24 Hours in A&E' and 'Embarrassing Bodies'

Information from Channel 4’s

Documentary Team

“Specifically in 2016”, channel 4's documentary team are aiming to “include a lot more documentaries between 8-9pm.”

A quote from Channel 4's documentary commissions team;

"they always seek to offer audiences reliable narrative beats in a world that is engaging and relatable for a broad audience."