WHAT CHILDREN WATCH - Ofcom

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Since 1996, the total amount of children’s programming on BBC1 has increased
by 7% from 832 hours to 889 hours in 2001, following a dip in 1997. This overall
figure hides a much larger increase (64%) in programming during the breakfast slot
from 206 hours in 1996 to 338 hours in 2001.
The after-school slot remains the most dominant for BBC1- time devoted to children
during this part of the day rose by 22% from 344 hours in 1996 to 420 hours the
following year, remaining fairly consistent between 1997-2001 (416 hours).
However, over this time, output during the morning and early afternoon dayparts
declined. Provision during the 0930-1159 slot fell from 178 hours in 1996 to 64 hours
in 2001 - a decrease of 64%. Output during 1200-1529 fell by 26% from 92 hours in
1996 to 68 hours in 2001.
BBC2
Hours of children’s programming by daypart: BBC2
Hours
1,400
1,200
1,000
800
600
400
200
0
1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001
Hours 923 930 1,042 1,059 1,183 1,292
■ 1530-1729 ■ 1200-1529 ■ 0930-1159 ■ 0600-0929
Source: BARB, Monday-Sunday
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BBC2’s provision of children’s programming has increased steadily each year from
923 hours in 1996 to 1,292 hours in 2001, and it is now the largest single provider of
children’s programming amongst the terrestrial channels.
Similar to trends observed on BBC1, there has been significant growth in time
devoted to children during the breakfast slot, with the extension of the weekday slot
from 0730-0830 to 0700-0900 in 1999.
Overall, between 1996-2001, children’s programming provision during the
0600-1159 slot has risen from 727 hours to 1,156 hours, an increase of 59%.
What Children Watch 17