BBC risking lost generation as younger audience tunes out Add to Your Pages
24 October 2019
Reach of BBC TV among 16-24 year-olds drops below 50% for first time
BBC generally serving people well, but Ofcom calls for clear plan to reach younger and disengaged audiences
The BBC may not be sustainable in its current form, if it fails to regain younger audiences who are increasingly tuning out of its services.
Ofcom's annual report on the BBC, published today, assesses the corporation's performance over the period April 2018 to March 2019.
We have found that the BBC is generally serving viewers and listeners well, through the breadth and quality of its programmes. People's satisfaction with the BBC remains high comparing well with other TV and radio broadcasters.
But like many broadcasters, the BBC is vulnerable to a rapidly changing media landscape. The corporation has acknowledged it is struggling to engage and retain younger audiences, and it is working to address this such as by launching BBC Sounds and making programmes available for longer on iPlayer.
Ofcom's findings show that the BBC must do much more to connect with today's children and younger adults through relevant, appealing, and well-placed content or it could lose a generation of potential licence-fee payers.
The scale of the BBCs challengeOfcom's annual report on the BBC sets out the nature of the challenge it faces.
Last year, for the first time, less than half (49%) of young people aged 16-24 tuned into BBC TV channels in an average week. Among males in this age group, it was 46%.
People aged 16-34 spent an average of one hour and 12 minutes with the BBC every day five minutes less than the previous year, and half as much time as audiences overall.
After several years of stability, the proportion of children aged 4-6 who watch CBeebies each week fell, from 39% to 34%.
BBC iPlayer's reach of 15-24 year olds fell from 28% to 26%, while Netflix saw its younger audience increase from 56% to 66%.
The amount of time 18-24 year-olds spent each day on BBC websites dropped by a quarter, from 2 minutes 43 seconds each day, to 2 minutes.
Similar challenges are revealed in Ofcom's review of BBC news and current affairs, also published today. The review gathered views from audiences across the UK, and involved innovative, detailed research on how people get their news.
Our review finds that the BBC remains the UK's primary news source, and has maintained its reputation for trusted and accurate reporting. In a time of increased fake news and disinformation, BBC news is still the place people go for a reliable take on events, particularly breaking stories.
However, we found that younger audiences are turning away from BBC news and current affairs, increasingly using social media and news aggregator' services such as Apple News or Upday where the BBC is just one of many sources. Among 16-24 year-olds:
Less than a quarter (23%) watched BBC TV news during 2018, a drop of over a third in just five years.
Fewer than one in 10 (8%) watched current affairs across BBC TV, around half the proportion who watched five years ago. In contrast, more than three quarters (76%) now use social media for news.
Younger people in our research questioned how far BBC news coverage was talking to them', rather than older generations.
Reaching other audiencesThe BBC is also struggling to reach other groups within the UK, today's reports find.
Our research shows that some people such as older women and those from lower socio-economic groups continue to be dissatisfied with how they are portrayed on the BBC. People in Scotland and those aged over-65 have similar concerns.
Similarly, our report on BBC news shows that some people see it as representing a white, middle class and London-centric point of view that is not relevant to their lives.
More widely, however, the BBC is still performing well on editorial standards and output. In the vast majority of cases that we considered during the year, the BBC is meeting the standards of Ofcom's Broadcasting Code, as well as our regulatory conditions.
What we expect the BBC to doSharon White, Ofcom Chief Executive, said: The BBC is still a vital, valued part of British culture. But we're concerned that a new generation is tuning out of its services. So the BBC must set out bolder plans to connect with younger viewers and listeners.
We also want the BBC to broaden the appeal of its news, which some viewers and listeners feel isn't relevant to their lives. And the BBC must find ways to be more distinctive online, where our research shows younger people are passing it by.
Reaching younger people. While the BBC has launched initiatives that can help extend its appeal, these are not far-reaching enough. The BBC should set out clear plans for producing distinctive, innovative content that reaches younger audiences where they want to find it.
Broadening its appeal. The BBC needs to set out a more detailed plan for improving how it represents and portrays the whole of UK society, including less satisfied groups. Our news review calls on the BBC to focus on authentic news and current affairs content that feels relevant and engaging to all audiences. People told us they want to see more news about their communities, reported by people with a deeper understanding of the area. With its unparalleled local and regional newsgathering resources, the BBC should be able to represent the whole country using a variety of style, tone and subject matter.
Engaging younger audiences online. As more people rely on social media and aggregator platforms for news, the BBCs online content needs to do more to stand out. It should publish the steps it is taking to help all audiences especially younger people understand and engage wit
Most recent headlines
05/01/2027
Worlds first 802.15.4ab-UWB chip verified by Calterah and Rohde & Schwarz to be ...
04/08/2026
Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, t...
04/07/2026
April 7 2026, 19:00 (PDT) Detective Conan: Fallen Angel of the Highway Opens in...
04/06/2026
Sony Electronics is introducing the SRG-AS10, a 4K 60p-compatible PTZ auto-frami...
04/06/2026
This recent grad from Spring, TX, led creative-video output for the Aggies' men's basketball team last season and has been producing video and creating ...
04/06/2026
For the first time at a women's golf major, every player in the field will r...
04/06/2026
Three Panasonic PT-RQ45 40,000-lumen 3-Chip DLP projectors made their first live...
04/06/2026
Bitmovin and Akamai have announced a collaboration with NRJ Group, a French mult...
04/06/2026
Telestream will exhibit at InfoComm 2026 (Booth N7952), demonstrating media work...
04/06/2026
Sony has announced the development of RIALTO 65, a 65mm format image sensor block for the VENICE 2 digital cinema camera, targeting release in the first half of...
04/06/2026
KOKUSAI DENKI Electric America will exhibit at InfoComm 2026 (Booth N8025, June ...
04/06/2026
Bell Media's TSN and RDS are the exclusive Canadian broadcasters of FIFA Wor...
04/06/2026
The Challenge: Receiving Heavy Media Files From Road Games Quickly and ReliablyT...
04/06/2026
MASV, a managed file transfer platform used in broadcast and live sports product...
04/06/2026
NESN has announced the appointment of Fahad Haider as Vice President of Operations and Engineering. Haider returns to NESN, where he previously served as Vice P...
04/06/2026
David J. Halberstam, who spent almost 50 years in sports as a broadcaster and an executive, died June 2 after a years-long battle with brain cancer.
Over his l...
04/06/2026
Although collegiate production programs are tasked with delivering high-quality ...
04/06/2026
California studio, two production trucks, global distribution system are combine...
04/06/2026
New global program empowers and supports storytellers through scriptwriting course and access to industry experts
TikTok and Sundance Institute today announce...
04/06/2026
Steinberg DAWs now boast in-depth Tonalic integration
Celemony's innovative virtual session musician plug-in has just received an update that brings ARA...
04/06/2026
Get Hands-On With Over 20 Mic Brands
GearExpo UK is fast approaching, and if you've been looking for a chance to check out some new mics, then you'r...
04/06/2026
Combos feature new Amplifier Intelligence engine
Positive Grid's latest release sees the company introduce two new combo amplifiers that promise to offe...
04/06/2026
Is Your Job Making You Work this June?
4 June, 2026
Media releases
SBS Launches the World Cup Watchers' Rights Association to Stand Up For Australians&...
04/06/2026
Statement regarding unauthorised use of SBS logos on third party social content
4 June, 2026
Media releases
SBS has become aware of social media posts in c...
04/06/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
04/06/2026
Bitmovin, a leading provider of video streaming infrastructure, and Akamai, the cybersecurity and cloud computing company that powers and protects business onli...
04/06/2026
American Underground (AU), the Startup Hub of the South and a community of mor...
04/06/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
04/06/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
04/06/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
04/06/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
04/06/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
04/06/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
04/06/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
04/06/2026
Share
Copy link
Facebook
X
Linkedin
Bluesky
Email...
04/06/2026
NVIDIA and Microsoft Reinvent Windows PCs for the Age of Personal AI
Brie Clayton June 3, 2026
0 Comments
RTX Spark - a 1-Petaflop Superchip, the Full...
04/06/2026
Inside the Peaky Blinders: The Immortal Man Grade
Brie Clayton June 3, 2026
0 Comments
Simone Grattarola discusses shaping the look in DaVinci Resolve...
04/06/2026
Cine Gear Expo Announces 2026 Awards of Excellence Recipients
Brie Clayton June 3, 2026
0 Comments
Ed Lachman ASC, Caleb Deschanel ASC, and M. David M...
04/06/2026
St. Vincents Live with Orchestra Tour to Feature Berklee Alum Ruby Plume Berklee alumni St. Vincent and Ruby Plume will appear on the same bill across seven d...
04/06/2026
Back to All News
All the Truth in My Lies Coming to Netflix on August 28
Entertainment
04 June 2026
GlobalSpain
Link copied to clipboard
Download the imag...
04/06/2026
Back to All News
Larry Tanz, VP of Content, EMEA, Delivers a Keynote Speech at ...
04/06/2026
Back to All News
Turn Your Living Room into a Stadium With the New FIFA World ...
04/06/2026
Keeping conversations real on LinkedIn Published on Jun 4, 2026 Categories: Product News
LinkedIn Corporate Communications
Share
LinkedIn
Facebook ...
04/06/2026
BackStory follows four Irish young people as they travel back to their parents' homelands
Modern Irish identity is enriched by cultures and influences from...
04/06/2026
June's forecast with GeForce NOW: 100% chance of gaming.
GeForce NOW is lining up new adventures for the month, from big-name blockbusters to quirky indies...
03/06/2026
SES and Viva, Mexico's ultra low-cost airline, have launched multi-orbit satellite inflight connectivity on Viva's Airbus aircraft. A total of 60 A320s ...
03/06/2026
The College Football Playoff, ESPN, and TNT Sports have announced kick times and...
03/06/2026
RED Digital Cinema will exhibit at Cine Gear Expo 2026 (Booth 33, June 5-6, Universal Studios Lot), hosting three panels and hands-on product demonstrations.
P...
03/06/2026
Roku has announced the Soccer Zone, a dedicated hub for FIFA World Cup 2026 content available across the United States, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Colombia, Argent...
BBC risking lost generation as younger audience tunes out Add to Your Pages 
