BBC risks losing working class viewers to alternative broadcasters
- The House of Lords report indicates that the BBC's current coverage fails to authentically represent lower income viewers.
- Research shows that working class individuals feel criticized rather than positively portrayed in BBC programming.
- If reforms are not made, the BBC risks further losing its working class audience to channels like GB News, which are seen as more relatable.
In a report titled 'The Future of News' published by the House of Lords, concerns were raised about the BBC potentially alienating its working class audience. The report highlights findings from Ofcom research, which indicates that lower income groups often feel criticized or caricatured in the BBC's coverage. A particular concern is that these viewers are increasingly turning to alternative platforms, particularly GB News, which launched in 2021 amid the ongoing changes in media consumption. While GB News aims to serve underrepresented communities, it has faced scrutiny for partisanship and its approach to news delivery, which some experts feel mirrors the entertainment-focused model of US networks like Fox News. The report underscores the need for the BBC to reflect on these trends and revamp its coverage to better engage this demographic. The BBC has committed to increasing the representation of lower socio-economic backgrounds in its workforce as part of addressing these concerns, aiming for 25% by 2025.