BBC To Attract More Popular Audiences

The BBC is to undergo a programme strategy review, to examine whether it is adequately serving its audiences. Programme makers have been told that the BBC should shed its exclusivity image, and regain a reputation for popular drama to attract both a less exclusive and a younger audience. Alan Yentob told Ariel, the BBC staff magazine, “There have been big successes, notably Eastenders and Casualty, but too many BBC productions have failed to capture big audiences where ITV have succeeded.”

BBC PARTNER FOR SATELLITE DEAL

The BBC is in talks with Cox Enterprises, the large US media group, over a joint venture to take an international BBC Satellite television channel into the US market. It is not yet clear whether the channel would be BBC World Service Television News or an entertainment channel.