Doctor Who: Industry and Audience blog tasks

 Audience

1) Who is the target audience for Doctor Who? Has it changed since 1963?

The target audience for Doctor Who is mainstream, with involvement of different classes and races (as of more recent showings). It is also not directed at a specific gender, although it used to consist of a  male audience. Overall, the target age group for Doctor Who is extremely large, both inviting for older audiences and younger ones.

2) What audience psychographic groups might particularly enjoy Doctor Who?

The Mainstreamers since Doctor Who is a widely popular show. You could argue that Succeeders may also enjoy this show, as it is a very well rounded show and gives a nostalgic brand identity

3) What audience pleasures are offered by An Unearthly Child? Apply Blumler and Katz's Uses and Gratifications theory to the episode. Make sure you provide specific examples from the episode to support your ideas.

Personal Identity: The characters in this episode are of all ages and both men and women, allowing their audience to relate to the characters and put themselves into their situations.

Personal Relationships: The characters in this episode are likeable, and since the episode ends on a cliffhanger, the audience is left to wonder what will happen to their characters making them eager to watch more.

Diversion (Escapism): The show includes fictional situations that wouldn't happen in real life, but are entertaining and could possibly be seen as a way to escape the real world.

4) What additional Uses and Gratifications would this episode provide to a modern 2020 audience?

The show could further provide Personal Relationships, as many audience members will likely be watching the show for nostalgic reasons like seeing their favourite childhood characters again. It could also be argued that the modern adaptation of the programme provides audiences with Surveillance since they try to use more genuine scientific concepts and ideas in the recent show.

5) Thinking of the 3 Vs audience pleasures (Visceral, Vicarious and Voyeuristic pleasures), which of these can be applied to An Unearthly Child?

The main audience pleasure is Vicarious Pleasures, as the audience can easily relate to and experience things through the characters of the show.

Industries

1) What was the television industry like in 1963? How many channels were there?

The television industry was very minimal in 1963, with only 3 different channels available

2) Why is Doctor Who such an important franchise for the BBC? 

 It generates a high source of income for the BBC, and it is known as one of the most iconic British shows ever produced.

3) How does Doctor Who meet the BBC's mission statement to 'inform, educate and entertain'?

The show is entertaining as it provides drama and action throughout episodes. It could also be argued as being educational as it sometimes uses science based things from reality.

4) How is the BBC funded?

Via the public service organisations as people must sign up to a TV licence (buy) to watch the channels

5) Who regulates the BBC and what is the watershed?

Since 2017 the BBC is regulated by OfCOM (Office of Communications). Watershed is 9pm, and it is there to make sure any inappropriate shows (violence, swearing) is shown before this time period to avoid younger audiences being exposed to those shows.