1. Channel 4 and The
IT Crowd
How was The IT Crowd scheduled on
Channel 4 and how does this comedy show
fit with the institutional aims of Channel 4?

2. About Channel 4
 Is publically owned but commercially funded (does
not receive money from the public)
 How does Channel 4 make money and how does
the IT Crowd assist with this?
 Is a Public Service Broadcaster (OFCOM Licence)
 What do you remember about PSB?

3. OFCOM Licence
 Regulators can tell TV companies what they can or
cannot do in exchange for giving them the right to
transmit „free to air‟ – Ofcom
 Key rules
 Quality programmes
 Proportion of British-made programmes
 Reflect the diversity of Britain
 Proportion of programmes must be made outside the M25
 Must have certain genres eg news
 Balanced mix of genres (no stripped schedules)
 How does The IT Crowd fit with this?

4. Channel 4 – Mission and Purpose
 Primary purpose is the fulfilment of its public service
remit as defined by the 2003 Communications Act – “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 ….
 Exhibits a distinctive character.”
 How does The IT Crowd fit with this?

5. As a Publisher - Broadcaster
 Channel 4 is required to commission UK content from
independent producers
 They work with around 300 creative companies eg
 Hat Trick Productions – Father Ted
 Talkback Thames -The IT Crowd, Da Ali G Show, Green
Wing
 Assembly Film & Television Productions - Black Books
 London Weekend TV – Spaced
 Bwark Productions – The Inbetweeners (E4)
 Objective Productions – The Peep Show
http://www.channel4.com/programmes/tags/comedy/4od

6. The Digital Economy Act 2010
 Added to the public remit
 Broad range of media content that would appeal to a
culturally diverse society
 High Quality
 Making relevant media content for older children and
young adults
 Broadcasting or distribution of media by a wide range
of different types of electronic communication
networks
 British film stuff
 How does The IT Crowd fit in with these?

7. The IT Crowd – Basic Information
 Four series, each with six episodes
 A fifth series was commissioned for 2011 but never appeared
(there was a one off special in 2013 to concluded the series
and it was 1 hour long)
 First Series premiered on Friday 3rd February 2006 9pm, the
second on Friday 24th August 2007 9pm, the third on Friday
21th November 2008 9pm, and the fourth Friday 25th June
2010 9pm.
 Currently being screened on E4 – Thursday at 10pm, two
epiodes at a time.
 What do need to include in your answer?

8. The IT Crowd and Channel 4
Scheduling.
 Friday night is a good night for comedy – wind-down
time of the weekend. Sets the audience up for the
weekend – key pleasure of helping the audience to
unwind from what could have been a difficult week
 Screens just after the watershed so can include some
swearing and rude subjects which can appeal to the
target audience and create audience pleasures
 The IT Crowd is a flagship programme that was
hugely popular with audience and 9pm is a very
competitive audience slot

9. Practice Question
 Discuss in detail how and why one comedy
programme was scheduled on one or more
channels
 Use either My Family or The IT Crowd as your
example (give specific details).
 You need to give at least four specific points.
 One point must cover day/time
 At least one point must relate to OFCOM
 At least one point must relate to the channel
specifically (Mission/ Purpose, Specific target
audience).
 Any other point (OFCOM, Mission/
Purpose, legislation)