What Does the Future hold for Children's Programming? [6th March 2008]

[6th March 2008]

This a report written by Cheryl Stevens, intern to Lord Taylor, about the Ofcom Seminar on the Future of Children’s Television Programming.

This event took place on December 6, 2007. It was organised by Westminster Media Forum in the Lewis Media Centre of Millbank Tower.

There was a brief introduction and then Peter Phillips, a Partner in Ofcom’s Strategy and Market Developments, spoke at the podium. He initiated his assessments by noting that today was the Feast of St. Nicolas, a day associated with children. An interesting fact he mentioned was that 90% of households have a television with multiple channels. According to Mr. Phillips, problems that arise are from the 9-12 age groups. He believes that there is not enough learning about different cultures and not enough drama programmes. A panel regarding children’s television today then formed.

The first to speak was Anne Gilchrist, the Creative Director of CBBC. She spoke of how it took 60 years to generate a children’s programming strategy and she does not want to see that ruined. She then proudly states the CBBC has won ten awards for content. Ms. Gilchrist closes with her belief that children’s programmes should still remain on main channels even though only 8% of children do watch them.

Another speaker was Howard Litton, Managing Director at Nickelodeon. His comments were very short because he showed the audience a quick video clip from one of the new programmes his company is promoting. Some of their latest each have something important to teach children. Nickelodeon’s Big Green Thing is an environmentally aware programme, Nicktrition teaches children how to eat healthy, and Nickelodeon’s Mini Movers helps children exercise. The video clip we watched was from Nickelodeon’s See Something Say Something which is primarily to inform children about bullying and how to stop it.

I met Brian Thompson from Real Ideas Organisation. He works with kids that are around 12-14 to encourage creativity and change in the community and within themselves. I told him all about the Warwick Leadership Foundation and he was very keen on staying in touch.

The other guest I met was Moira Goatley, the Head of Broadcasting Content and Regulation for the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. She knows about Lord Taylor because her office has worked with him numerous times. She also is interested in the Warwick Leadership Foundation.

Another table of smiling panellists greeted us after the break. One of the speakers was Nick Wilson, Director of Children’s Programmes from Five. He maintained that Five has a clear plan of what it will be doing regarding children’s programmes. He forecasted that the programme Milkshake should be running 600 new episodes in 2008 as well as 20 different series.

Philip Graf, the Chairman of the Ofcom Content Board later closed the seminar. He mentioned the Byron Review that will be coming out in March. My ears perked up at this comment because Lord Taylor and I had a meeting with Dr. Byron the previous week.

If I were to change anything about this event, it would be that the latecomers found it difficult to find seats. People refused to move down the row of seats to allow people easy entrance. Instead, many people stood up in the middle of the seminar and blocked my view. Other than this factor, the seminar was delightful and I hope to attend another!