TV Funding –

Public Service Broadcasters (BBC)

BBC is an example of a public service broadcasters, the main way that BBC make their money is by the License Fee as BBC are not a biased company and do not broadcast any adverts for products etc.  Another way a Public service broadcaster would get their profit would be by syndicating their programmes; this means that the company would sell their programmes to other channels for money. BBC would also do things such as, competitions, this is a good way to make money as it gives viewers a chance to win and also brings in a lot of money as the questions etc would be very easy which means more people will enter in for the competition.

Commercial Broadcasters (ITV, 5)

ITV is an example of a Commercial Broadcaster; commercial broadcasters do not have a license fee. They make their money by advertising; this is a good way to make profit as each advert would be on a lot of times a day which means the company is bringing in a lot of money. Commercial Broadcasters also do syndications as they sell their programmes to other companies for money. Channel 5 recently bought Big Brother off Channel 4; this was good as it gives Channel 5 a chance to renew and make improvements on the certain programme.   This kind of broadcaster has competitions which bring in profit as they would provide viewers with a question that 99% of the public will know. This means that there will be a lot of people calling in costing themselves money.

Public Service and part Commercial Broadcasters (Channel 4)

Channel 4 is an example of a public service and part commercial broadcaster, as it mixes between the two. So this means that Channel 4 is biased but for both sides of the media.  Channel 4 has a small part of the license fee but not a very big amount as only Public Service broadcasters have their main bit in the license fee. However, this helps make profit as it means everyone who wants to watch these channels has to pay a certain amount for it. Channel 4 also has advertising, syndication, competitions, merchandising and associated products.

Subscriber broadcasters (Sky, Virgin)

Subscriber broadcasters are funded through having subscriptions, this means that you would have to pay a certain amount to the broadcaster and then you will get everything on it, all the programmes etc. This is a good way of funding as its making an agreement with the customer to keep using that certain broadcaster as it has everything they will need on it and it comes out of the customers’ money every month. Subscriber broadcasters also have advertising, syndication, on selling of the rights to their licensed programmes, competitions, merchandising and associated products.