Abstract:

The paper describes the role of the Broadcasting Research Department in the development of the BBC's daytime television service. The research comprised a series of studies, involving reanalysis of existing data about the actual and potential audience for daytime television, and original research concerning audience perceptions about television in the daytime, and reactions to particular programme ideas. Discussion focuses on the extent to which this research significantly contributed to the development of the daytime service, outlining the constraints on both the schedulers and researchers which might have influenced this contribution.