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Average age of BBC viewer now 60+

March 30, 2017

The rise in popularity of online streaming services such as Netflix and Amazon Prime has driven the average age of those watching the BBC is over 60.

A report by the BBC Trust found the corporation’s mainstream services struggle to appeal to younger viewers. It showed that the average age of BBC1 viewers is 61 while on BBC2 it is 62. And it said trends in how youngsters watch TV had worked against efforts to make the BBC more appealing to them.

The report also showed less than half agreed that the BBC makes shows nobody else would. But the number of people who felt it makes high-quality programmes was 73 per cent.

The Trust also revealed the growth of BBC Online had slowed in the past couple of years, adding that the “breadth” of use of services such as iPlayer “is lower than we might expect”. But it is second to Netflix among 16 to 34-year-olds.

The report said: “Overall, the challenge facing the BBC in serving younger audiences is becoming more acute. Addressing this challenge will have to be a clear priority for the new BBC Board.”

Categories: Articles, Consumer Behaviour, OTT, Research