INSTITUTIONAL CONTEXTS: QI AND THE IT CROWD

QI

Institutional contexts:

•                  The media channels‘/stations’ brand identities

 •                  The media channels’/stations’ ethos and histories (only relevant if they affect   programmes)

 •                  Regulatory (eg Public Service Broadcasting) requirements

QI is broadcast on Dave and BBC 2. Dave used to be called UKTV but re branded as Dave in 2007 to create a 'strong and noisy personality'. This new brand identity was based on the idea that 'everybody knows a bloke called Dave' to make the channel more relatable and memorable to its viewers, and give the channel a 'personality'. Dave shows programmes such as QI, Mock the Week and Have I Got News For You. Dave's brand slogan is 'the home of witty banter' and shows predominantly comedy programmes, such as QI. 

On the other hand, BBC 2 is a Public Service Broadcaster; it's aim is 'to inform, educate and entertain'. QI fits well with this remit, as it covers a range of 'quite interesting' information about subjects like history, science, nature and food. At the moment QI is on it's twelfth series (Series L). It is shown on BBC 2 every Thursday at 22:00 and 23:05 and every Friday at 22:00 and 23:05. Many QI repeats are shown on Dave regularly, for example on Tuesdays at 20:00, 21:00 and 22:00; as well as at 03:15, 04:15, 21:00 and 22:00 on Wednesdays; additionally it's shown on Saturdays at 21:05 and 22:30

 •                  The media channels’/stations’ target audiences.

BBC 2's remit is 'to be a mixed-genre channel appealing to a broad adult audience with programmes of depth and substance. It should carry the greatest amount and range of knowledge building programming of any BBC television channel, complemented by distinctive comedy, drama and arts programming.' QI fits this remit very well because it offers a range of knowledge and trivia on multiple subjects, as well as incorporating humour to appeal to a wide range of people. 

Dave describes their target audience as a 'core 16-34 male audience'. QI's broad range of topics and humour makes it a suitable programme for such a large age group: young men as well as older ones. Stereotypically, QI would appeal to a male audience as there is a lot of slapstick and often crude jokes. 

The IT Crowd

Institutional contexts:

•                  The media channels‘/stations’ brand identities

 •                  The media channels’/stations’ ethos and histories (only relevant if they affect   programmes)

 •                  Regulatory (eg Public Service Broadcasting) requirements

The IT Crowd is broadcast on Channel 4; a Public Service Broadcaster. 

"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."

The IT Crowd suits this remit because it appeals to a niche audience and focuses on an original 'situation' as part of the situation comedy: an IT department of a big business. Because of its ingenuity as a programme and the niche brand of humour, the IT Crowd also fits the remit as having a 'distinctive character'. The IT Crowd had four series as well as a special; repeats are not currently being aired. 

 •                  The media channels’/stations’ target audiences.

According to Channel 4, 'Audiences lie at the heart of everything we do at Channel 4. Our unique model means that we aim to have as wide an appeal as possible while also reaching out to specific demographics under-served by other broadcasters' 
The IT Crowd suits this target audience because of its niche audience it reaches out to 'specific demographics'; people a sophisticated brand of humour that is often subtle and clever, not just slapstick or physical. Channel 4 appeals to both males and females of a broad age range; The IT Crowd suits this because the comedy is not rude or offensive and can be watched by a family audience.