Doctor Who: Audience and Industry blog tasks💕

Audience

1) Who is the target audience for Doctor Who? Has it changed since 1963?

appeals to masses (12-40), reboot helped gain younger fans.

2) What audience psychographic groups might particularly enjoy Doctor Who?

12 certificate so maybe young teens and reverences to popular culture (pop culture) 

3) What audience pleasures are offered by An Unearthly Child? Apply Blumler and Katz's Uses and Gratifications theory to the episode. Make sure you provide specific examples from the episode to support your ideas.

Personal Identity:

-susan-teenager-listening to music-costumes

-school setting-mise en scene

-teachers:barbara&ian-almost parental figures  

Personal Relationships:

-teacher+susan - audience wants them to be safe - cliffhanger/ enigma code. 

Diversion (Escapism): -dramatic sci fi narrative 

-mystery=susan-"unearthly"

-tardis

Surveillance (Information / Facts): technology , science , history

-the doctor

- the teacher

-the french revolution/ the space travel

            

4) What additional Uses and Gratifications would this episode provide to a modern 2020 audience?

In 2020 people may still watch doctor who as diversion. The sci-fi genre can be a form of escapism 

5) Thinking of the 3 Vs audience pleasures (Visceral, Vicarious and Voyeuristic pleasures), which of these can be applied to An Unearthly Child?

Visceral Pleasures: Tardis taking off- creepy junkyard

Vicarious Pleasures: Space and time travel - inside of the tardis 

Voyeuristic Pleasures: Teachers discussion of susan


Industries

1) What was the television industry like in 1963? How many channels were there?

In 1963 the television industry was small. There were only 3 channels available to watch.

2) Why is Doctor Who such an important franchise for the BBC? 

3) How does Doctor Who meet the BBC's mission statement to 'inform, educate and entertain'?

Doctor Who informs and educates people because of the science and history you learn throughout the show. It is also great entertainment as it provides a lot of science fiction and action in the episodes.

4) How is the BBC funded?

The BBC is funded from us as BBC license fee payers wheres other channel rely on advertising and sponsorship.

5) Who regulates the BBC and what is the watershed?

The BBC is regulated by OfCOM (the office of communications). OfCOM oversees all media channel and produces a code of conduct that all media channels must follow. This includes suitable programmes before the 9pm watershed and various other quality standards.