Is BBC1 in crisis as some national newspapers suggested this week following publication of the BBC's annual report?
Is BBC1 in crisis as some national newspapers suggested this week following publication of the BBC's annual report?

Based on BBC1's current performance there is little evidence for describing the channel as anywhere close to crisis.

BBC1 controller Lorraine Heggessey could point to award-winning dramas State of Play and Canterbury Tales , documentaries Pompeii and Colosseum , and entertainment format Strictly Come Dancing as examples of the channel's creative strength and popular appeal.

If there is a crisis at BBC1 it is the same identity crisis the channel has always faced - caused by being primarily an entertainment channel which also has a remit to inform and educate. Balancing these requirements has always been difficult and with more than 50% of the country now having multichannel choice, that pressure is greater than ever.

The BBC governors praise the fact that BBC1 is now finding more room in its peak schedule for current affairs and documentaries. But the programmes that they are championing make grim reading when it comes to ratings. The table we carry on page 5 this week shows the best and worst rating shows on BBC1 so far this year. The best performing programmes include two England games in Euro 2004, an EastEnders episode and two American movies - all taking a share of over 31% and audiences above 8 million.

But the worst performing programmes seem to be precisely the sort of thing the governors want to see in peaktime - but viewers don't. So the poorest rating programme on BBC1 this year is an admirable Panorama special in peaktime on the mistreatment of Iraqi prisoners by US troops. It achieved a staggeringly poor 7% share with just 1.7 million viewers.

The governors are right to demand a broader range of programming in BBC1 peak - but at the moment the consequence appears to be some dramatic declines in audience share, which over time could also have a damaging effect on the BBC's status.

So BBC1, as it always has, faces the balancing act of delivering a mixed schedule and mass audiences. It isn't a crisis, but if handled badly it could easily become one.