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A Survey of Heritage Television Viewing Figures

Angela Piccini¹ | University of Bristol

Issue 1 — June 2007 | ISSN 1754-8691

1. Introduction and background
Timewatch Skeletons

Plate 1: Timewatch - Mystery of the
Headless Romans ©BBC

Heritage is a popular subject for television programme makers, with widespread coverage on both the terrestrial TV channels (BBC1, BBC2, ITV, Channel 4, Five) and numerous digital channels. However, there is only limited information on who is watching these programmes. This report presents the findings of the first heritage television viewing figures study, undertaken by University of Bristol and TRP (Television Research Partnership) with BARB (Broadcasters' Audience Research Board) data, for the Council for British Archaeology and English Heritage². It aimed to provide an England-wide analysis of television viewing figures for heritage television and trend data for 2005–2006.

Heritage television definition

For the purpose of the survey, the definition of heritage television is: any 'factual' programming transmitted on both analogue and digital platforms that concerns material culture, the historic environment and ancient monuments. History programming that focuses on artefacts and sites recovered through archaeological practices is also considered to be heritage television. As such, programmes range from Antiques Roadshow through to Time Team and Horizon.

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Published in 2007 by the Council for British Archaeology, St Mary's House, Bootham, York, YO30 7BZ

  1. Department of Drama, Theatre, Film & Television at the University of Bristol, Woodland Road, Bristol BS8 1UP. Email: a.a.piccini@bristol.ac.uk
  2. The author and the Council for British Archaeology thank English Heritage and the University of Bristol for funding this project. The research published here was originally presented to English Heritage for Heritage Counts in November 2006

© Council for British Archaeology (CBA) and the Author, All Rights Reserved.
URL: http://www.britarch.ac.uk/research/piccini_1_0.html.

Last Updated: 20 June 2007