Television has a problem attracting younger audiences and is watched primarily by “older, posher” people, the boss of BBC Two has said.
Patrick Holland said the TV industry overall faces a struggle to engage younger viewers.
The channel chief conceded that audiences are primarily wealthy and elderly, and broadcasters must work on attracting new audiences.
‘You don’t find a Peaky Blinders overnight.. Giri/Haji could be the next..’ @BBCTwo’s Patrick Holland on the next big drama for #bbctwo #EdTVFest
— EdinburghTVFestival (@EdinburghTVFest) August 21, 2019
Speaking at the Edinburgh TV Festival, Mr Holland said: “Of course I’m worried. I’m not worried in the sense that we don’t have the answers.
“Broadcast television has a problem with younger audiences.
“The whole of broadcast television has older, posher people watching.”
BBC bosses at the annual TV festival said the corporation must continue to adapt and produce content to make the licence fee worth paying.
‘Broadcasting can bring people together young and old.. if you have that spirit, that mischievous tone and that BBC Two unorthodox DNA’ @BBCTwo’s Patrick Holland on the channel’s audience average age of 62yrs #EdTVFest
— EdinburghTVFestival (@EdinburghTVFest) August 21, 2019
Head of BBC Four Cassian Harrison said: “All BBC channel and services need to justify why they are there.”
He added that the paternalistic tone of the BBC must change, saying: “The BBC needs to look beyond an authoritative, lecturing mode in its programming.”