Understanding our different audiences

This section contains quantitative and qualitative research published by the BBC Trust which examines various pieces of research carried out to gain a better understanding of the many diverse audiences of the BBC. This includes research relating to children and lesbian, gay and bisexual people.

BBC Diversity Strategy

Report on findings from research into the BBC's Diversity Strategy

The Trust has approved a BBC Diversity Strategy effective through to 2015. As part of this process, with the BBC's Diversity Centre we jointly commissioned a large-scale qualitative research study to engage and involve a wide range of audiences in the development of the strategy. This research included interviews and workshops involving different types of audience including those who can sometimes be overlooked in general research such as transgender people, disabled audiences, people from rural communities and lesbian, gay and bisexual people. The research also included interviews with third sector organisations and some BBC staff.

Report on findings from research into the BBC's Diversity Strategy, PDF (738KB)
Report on findings from research into the BBC's Diversity Strategy, text only (104KB)

Children

Research among children in ethnic minority homes

As part of the Trust's review of children's services, the BBC Trust identified ethnic minority children as one of the audience groups who may have been under-served by the BBC. Data suggested that on average, children from a 'non-white' background watch less BBC children’s content than white children.

This research was commissioned to feed into the overall children's review by providing information on children living in ethnic minority homes in terms of their lifestyle and media consumption, as well as their propensity to view BBC children's programming.

Research among children in ethnic minority homes

Research among children in ethnic minority homes, PDF (xxkb)
Research among children in ethnic minority homes, text only (xxkb)

Lesbian, gay and bisexual people

The BBC Executive commissioned extensive qualitative and quantitative research on the portrayal of lesbian, gay and bisexual people across broadcast media including the BBC.

Lesbian, gay and bisexual people

Portrayal of lesbian, gay and bisexual people, PDF (xxkb)

Nations/regions

In order for the BBC to fulfil its mission to inform, educate and entertain, the Royal Charter and Agreement sets out six public purposes.

The Trust has set remits for these public purposes, and in order to monitor the performance of the BBC in delivering the purposes, the Trust carries out an annual quantitative Purpose Remit Survey. This research asks respondents to express their views on both the importance they attach to the purpose priorities and on the BBC's current effectiveness in delivering them.

There were boost interviews within the UK nations and among respondents within black and minority ethnic groups to allow detailed analysis within these audience groups.

England

Scotland

Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland (2009-10), PDF (242KB)
Northern Ireland (2009-10), text only (58KB)
Northern Ireland (2008-09), PDF (239KB)
Northern Ireland (2008-09), text only (54KB)

Wales