ABSTRACT
And yet . . . the domestic landscape is still dominated by the core terrestrial channels with their roots in the national psyche and their millions of loyal viewers (Ofcom 2015a). BBC 1 and 2, ITV and Channels 4 and 5 have pride of place on the electronic programme guide (EPG), and occupy the main pages in the Radio Times and other listings. They are free-to-air, subject to regulation by Ofcom or the BBC Trust, and are committed to public service principles in different ways. At the same time their ‘family’ of channels, their streaming catch-up services, websites, extensive online material and global reach means that they are an important part of the age of superabundance. They remain national cultural institutions, but at the same time are keenly aware of their role as competitive businesses in a global market-place. Marketing and promotional content is an increasingly important part of their output (Johnson 2012).
