TELEVISION NEWS AND SOAPS

TV viewers 'value news and soaps'

One of the biggest studies of "public service" television has shown people rate impartial news highly and see benefit in soap operas.

Ofcom graphic

Photo: More than 6,000 people were surveyed for the Ofcom review

The report by communications regulator Ofcom is the first stage of a review which could shape the future output of the BBC and commercial broadcasters. It examines how much society gains from the five main terrestrial channels. The study shows viewers value accurate, impartial news and believe soaps help depict social issues.

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More than 6,000 people were asked for their opinions and five years of programmes were analysed for the review. Viewers thought that the main function of television was to provide entertainment, but that it should also support wider social purposes. The report also found:

high quality news and information was consistently seen by viewers as being both important and well delivered by broadcasters

audiences believe that television should do more to provide a safe environment for children watching programmes on the main terrestrial channels

current provision of some specialist areas, such as arts, religion and some types of regional programming, is less widely valued
viewers preferred minority interests to be represented within mainstream programming rather than through programmes specifically for those minority interests

audiences felt that there was a lack of innovation and originality on the main terrestrial channels

the public strongly supported the need for competition between the main terrestrial channels to provide quality programming.

The findings by Ofcom, released on Wednesday, will lead into a review of the BBC's charter.

Ofcom was launched last December as a replacement for five media watchdogs including the Independent Television Commission and Broadcasting Standards Commission.