Broadcasting Corporation s Decision On Broadcast Jerry...

Introduction - What I intend to write about In this report, I will be assessing the British Broadcasting Corporation s decision to broadcast Jerry Springer: The Opera back on 8th January 2005. In order to judge the decision, I will be looking at the reasons why the BBC made the decision to air it in 2005. I will be comparing the number of people who complained to the BBC to the total amount of people who watched the broadcast using viewing figures and charts. In addition, I will also look at the viewpoints of the Christian Voice Campaign who argued against the opera. Finally, I will also be using my knowledge of Utilitarianism and Kantianism while referencing the viewing figures and the BBC s general duty to the public to establish my†¦show more content†¦Despite this, the BBC continued with its decision to broadcast it. [2] (Inglis, Media Ethics. 2014 pers. comm., 8th December) BBC s arguments for their decision on televising Jerry Springer: The Opera According to figures from BBC News, over 1.7 million people tuned in to watch the opera. The report continues to state that there were 317 phone calls made to the BBC since the transmission and a mass of them were very supportive. [3] However, there was an overall high figure of 63,000 complaints about the opera and it became the most criticised television programme ever. [4] (Inglis, Media Ethics. 2014 pers. comm., 8th December) Despite the number of complaints, the BBC defended their decision on broadcasting the opera through a corporation spokesman. The spokesman said that the BBC conformed to their choice of televising the contentious opera and that it endures to be shown to congested audiences in London s theatres. [5] This statement shows that there were people interested in the opera by the time the BBC broadcasted it. The spokesman continues by saying that the corporation were proud to see that a broad range of crowds were able to witness a vital modern musical work. [6] (Cre ated with Microsoft Works Spreadsheet.) BBC News. 2005. Springer opera draws 1.7m viewers. [online]. Available from: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/4159217.stm [Accessed 28th December 2014]. Arguments against the broadcast according to the