NSW: Children s educational style television in decline

AAP General News (Australia)
04-02-2000
NSW: Children s educational style television in decline

A new report says children's educational magazine-style television programs have declined
by a massive 50 per cent while game shows have increased six-fold.

The Australian Broadcasting Authority's report has found the number of children's magazine
programs made up 52.7 per cent of the market in 1979.

The Sunday Telegraph says this has fallen to 23.1 per cent last year.

In the early 1980s they made up 72 per cent of children's television content.

Shows such as SIMON TOWNSEND's Wonder World, SHIRL's Neighbourhood, The Curiosity Show
and Wombat no longer run.

Instead, cheaply produced game shows now comprise 37.4 per cent of children's programming.

Australian Children's Television Foundation head PATRICIA EDGAR has told the paper
commercial network executives are choosing studio-based game shows because they are cheaper
to produce.

AAP RTV psm/wz/rp

KEYWORD: TV (SYDNEY)

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