In a review of the UK children's television market, Ofcom found that investment in original children's programming by the commercial public service broadcasters - ITV, GMTV, Channel 4 and Five - has halved since 1998, and that the BBC had not planned to continue its current levels of output.
Ofcom said a key factor in the decline was the rise in the number of children's television channels, which has increased from six in 1998 to 25 today, resulting in smaller audience shares and less advertising revenue, putting programme-makers under financial pressure.
While parents were satisfied with pre-school programming, which has grown since 1998 with slots such as CBeebies and Five's 'Milkshake', they wanted more drama and factual programming for older children and young teenagers.
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