The best platform for this series is channel 4. I have chosen to keep it on a more traditional platform as apposed to online. There are multiple reasons for this, firstly channel 4 has aired a number of shows in the past (several years ago) that adopt a similar style or cover similar subject matter to this series. While online presences like Netflix are growing in popularity among younger audiences, I have found through research that many do not consider such services when they think of documentaries. This is further evidenced by the trending page on Netlix’s website of the documentaries featured only one of them is a Netflix original. Before committing to a terrestrial broadcaster I carefully considered the branding of each available platform and the support it would receive from audiences. I found significant evidence supporting channel 4 as the best platform, for example according to the guardian “in 2017 40% of young people still watched TV on a regular basis”. These stats were also supported by Offcom. Then to ensure that the Channel 4 brand was the best option I  polled audiences to gauge their opinions (since that’s what matters most) and as you can see above, a significant majority said that they preferred Channel 4 over Netflix and other broadcasters as the platform for this type of series. This is also evidenced by the significant lack of “original” documentary series on the Netflix site, they simply do not have the well built up brand that channel 4 have for this type of content. As such I firmly believe that Channel 4 is the best platform for the show. 

​

This is further evidenced by stats from offcomwho report that documentary's like ‘The Supervet’ and ‘Gogglesprogs’ had the highest levels of claimed viewing - 59% of 10-14 year olds who watch any Channel 4 Corporation service said they had watched these programmes. ‘Educating Cardiff32’ was the least- watched programme on the list (38% of the group said they have watched it). With similar content SBS also has very close ties in audience age and so collaborating with them makes the most sense. Also thanks to channel 4’s online streaming service ALL 4, there is still opportunity for the series to reach viewers who consume most of their content through online streaming.

​

Channel 4 also has the advantage of being a multi channel network, with different broadcasters operating under the channel 4 name and brand. These include, Channel 4 its self (known for its diverse mix of entertainment, real life documentaries, quizzing/game shows, and alternative genres), Film 4 (broadcasts films that appeal to a channel 4 audience), E4 (an entertainment based platform that broadcasts mainly fictional shows or studio based chat shows), 4 music (which despite its name actually airs a lot of sitcoms and reality shows), as well as more 4 and 4,7 (which take channel 4’s regular programming and air it at later alternative times to catch slightly different audience demographics that may not have the chance to watch these shows live. This paired with the online presence of channel 4 (ALL 4) gives my show multiple opportunities to hit both its primary and secondary audiences. 

 

The new Channel 4 CEO, Alex Mahon, recently stated in an interview with the Radio Times that “the broadcaster will be working even harder to focus on making a connection with young viewers”. And despite the fear that younger viewers are moving away from TV all together, speaking at a recent Channel 4 event, Channel 4’s  sales director, Jonathan Allen, confirmed the broadcaster’s 16- to 34-year-old audience is at the same level as 2016 (41% of 16-34 year olds are channel 4 viewers). However to ensure we are not missing out on an online audience the series will also become available on Channel 4's online streaming service All 4, which already hosts a large back catalogue of shows and caters to an online audience, by keeping its series on the site for much longer periods of time than they are broadcast for (allowing for binge watching, and targeted recommendations based on users watch history) and unlike Netflix this service is available for free. 

 

Since channel 4 does not have a dedicated in house production team, it as a network has many opportunities to collaborate with and source content from external sources. Therefore partnering up with its overseas cousin SBS would be a logical processes (and more viable than it would be with a network which already had an in house production team). This is helped not only by the fact they have similar programming and audiences, but also because both channels have similar remits with the stated purpose of SBS being "to provide multilingual and multicultural radio and television services that inform, educate and entertain all Australians and, in doing so, reflect Australia's multicultural society”. This bares very strong similarities to channel 4's remit "The public service remit for Channel 4 is the provision of a broad range of high quality and diverse programming which, in particular:

•demonstrates innovation, experiment and creativity in the form and content of programmes;

•appeals to the tastes and interests of a culturally diverse society;

•makes a significant contribution to meeting the need for the licensed public service channels to include programmes of an educational nature and other programmes of educative value; and

•exhibits a distinctive character.”

 

So not only do the two networks strive for similar goals (such as creating serious grounded and educational content about creative and alternative subjects), but the multicultural aspect that SBS strives for can be adapted and used to give further reason for this international collaboration.

 

When it comes to selecting a time slot in which to air the show there are different factors to consider. Since our primary audience is 16-30 year olds it is important to consider their viewing habits. Previous BBC and channel 4 shows such as stage school aired at around 5:00PM, receiving an average of 2.2 million views, and other channel 4 shows that normally air at this time such as come dine with me (which this show would serve as a mid season replacement for) receive just under 3 million views. Looking at shows that air after the watershed such as educating Cardiff, which receives between 2.5 to 3 million views (but from an older audience) I think it is best to keep the show airing at 5:00PM as we still have a consistent audience that can be reached and since the shows target audience starts at 16 we don’t run the risk of loosing the younger end of our viewers, who are familiar with similar content airing at this time.

​

​

So to summarise my show will air on the terrestrial platforms of both Channel 4 and SBS and 5PM, and the series will remain available online for an extended period after airing.