Channel Research
"Documentaries on BBC One play a key role in building both the distinctiveness and the broad appeal of BBC One's Factual output, creating shared moments that reflect and explore the modern world and speak to contemporary Britain. BBC One is Britain’s biggest channel and this is where the country at its broadest comes to take part in a national conversation."
-Extract from the BBC Commissioning Briefs Website Documentaries on BBC One are often set in the present day and tell captivating human stories behind the national headlines. The documentaries usual explore significant social issues and often take a behind the scenes look at iconic institutions that are important to the general public. In regard to the modes of documentary, BBC One hosts a wide range of documentaries from multiple modes. From Reflexive Documentaries such as Chruchill: The Nation's Farewell, to Observational Documentaries such as Channel Patrol. The documentaries often appeal to a mainstream audience without giving off a sense of purposelessness or irrelevance. To quote the commissioning briefs website, the documentaries on BBC One look to "entertaining viewers but effortlessly informing and educating along the way.". I don't think my documentary Drama To The Max, would be suitable for BBC One. The channel focuses on much more 'highbrow' entertainment, and in particular documentaries. Plus, the mode of my documentary is participatory; a mode uncommon on BBC One. |
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"BBC Two is the home of Documentaries. We have had success across a range of Documentary forms, from A Very British Airline to Welcome To Rio and from Protecting Our Parents to The Choir: Sing While You Work. We employ the full gamut of ideas, tones and voices across the slate to champion programmes that are full of meaning and feel different from anything else on other channels. With wit, sophistication, humanity, warmth and an unflinching eye for the tougher subjects, we have played a critical role in building and defining the channel, especially at 9pm."
-Extract From the BBC Commissioning Briefs Website Documentaries on BBC Two seem to usually be compelling and engaging, yet they often also very up front about the issues and subject matter they are covering. Much of the documentaries benefit from a complex and content-rich storytelling. BBC Two documentaries also feel relevant and modern; allowing for compelling real life stories along with social interests and concerns. BBC Two features a nice range of documentaries that, on one hand entertain and immerse the audience with ideas explored to enrich the lives of the audience. On the other, the documentaries still manage to remain modern and thought provoking. Observational Documentaries seem to be the 'favourite' mode broadcast on BBC Two; Great British Railway Journeys, for example. However, there also seems to be a high percentage of Reflexive documentaries such as Attenborough's Paradise Birds and David Starkey's Magna Carta. Similar to BBC One, BBC Two is another channel dedicated to 'Highbrow' documentaries; and due to this, it is unlikely that my documentary Drama To The Max would find it's audience on such a channel. |
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"Channel 4 has world-class reputation in Documentaries based on its history of bold storytelling and innovative use of technology. Over the past thirty years, many of our most significant commissions have been the result of taking on ideas no one else would have been brave enough to try. And our biggest single note to producers has always been to bring us the most daring and controversial ideas."
- Extract From The Channel 4 Commissioning Information Website |
Channel 4
Examples of Documentaries:
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Many of Channel Four's documentaries give a reflect of the modern world to television audiences. The documentaries also often seem to focus on individuals rather than events. Plus, Channel 4 states that they look for "warmth and humour in the ideas". All in all, it seems that our documentary centred around a charismatic, comedically sharp, lovable teenager on his journey leading up to the production of a school play would seem to find it's audience on Channel 4.
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