BBC Trust Reviews Kids’ Services

LONDON: Scheduling changes have led to a fall in viewership of key BBC kids’ shows like Newsround and Blue Peter, according to a review of the pubcaster’s children’s services by its governing body, BBC Trust.

Mehmuda Mian, the BBC Trustee who led the review, stressed that the broadcaster "must remain a cornerstone of high-quality, U.K.-produced children’s content," adding that overall the BBC kids’ services "are performing very well."

However, among the key findings was that audience levels have fallen since kids’ titles were moved earlier in BBC One’s afternoon schedule. The Trust recommends that programs for children be "given priority at times children are likely to be watching."

Mian continued: "We’ve also highlighted some key risks and budgetary pressures which, left unchecked, could undermine future performance."

In addition, BBC Trust cited a decline in usage of the CBBC website that needs to be addressed. Moreover, the review urged BBC management to "clarify" the strategy for kids’ output and at the same time "consider whether the budget is sufficient to meet these objectives."

Jana Bennett, the director of BBC Vision, and Richard Deverell, the controller of BBC Children’s, issued a joint statement in response to the review, noting: "We are delighted that the BBC Trust has concluded that CBeebies and CBBC are at the heart of the BBC’s public service remit and that they are performing strongly on both TV and online. Their view that the BBC is delivering popular children’s programs and websites which successfully entertain a wide audience, deliver good value for money and at the same time make an important contribution to the BBC’s public purposes is something we embrace wholeheartedly. We agree that the BBC must remain a cornerstone of good quality U.K.-produced children’s content, providing a range of programs and reflecting the diversity of Britain’s children…We welcome the Trust’s key recommendations, and will submit our responses over the next six months, in particular regarding CBeebies Radio; seeking the best ways of continuing to reach children via TV and the web and the overall investment plan for BBC Children’s."