Ofcom Chair Michael Grade Criticizes Exploitative and Cruel TV Industry: 'Public as Performers' instead of 'Professional Entertainers'
Michael Grade, the chair of broadcasting regulator Ofcom, has criticized the state of television, expressing concern over its exploitative and cruel nature.
He believes the chase for higher audience ratings has led to an increase in exploitation and a lack of craft or thoughtful programming.
Grade also expressed displeasure with the trend of using the public as performers for audience entertainment.
Reality shows like The Traitors, Love Island, and Big Brother have drawn large audiences and topped terrestrial TV ratings in recent years.
According to Lord Grade, who has worked for the BBC, Channel 4, and ITV, the roles have reversed, and now the public entertains themselves instead of professional entertainers.
Lord Grade, who is now the chair of Ofcom, was made a Conservative peer in 2011 but became a crossbencher after joining Ofcom in 2022.
The media regulator has faced pressure to investigate broadcasts featuring MPs, particularly on GB News, which employs Conservative MPs such as Jacob Rees-Mogg and Lee Anderson.
In an interview on Boom Radio, GB News CEO John Malcolm Grade was questioned by presenter Jo Brand about the large number of complaints regarding GB News.
Grade responded that he couldn't comment as the complaints were still under investigation.
He added that GB News must balance the public's right to know, freedom of expression, and impartiality.
Grade also expressed displeasure with the trend of using the public as performers for audience entertainment.
Reality shows like The Traitors, Love Island, and Big Brother have drawn large audiences and topped terrestrial TV ratings in recent years.
According to Lord Grade, who has worked for the BBC, Channel 4, and ITV, the roles have reversed, and now the public entertains themselves instead of professional entertainers.
Lord Grade, who is now the chair of Ofcom, was made a Conservative peer in 2011 but became a crossbencher after joining Ofcom in 2022.
The media regulator has faced pressure to investigate broadcasts featuring MPs, particularly on GB News, which employs Conservative MPs such as Jacob Rees-Mogg and Lee Anderson.
In an interview on Boom Radio, GB News CEO John Malcolm Grade was questioned by presenter Jo Brand about the large number of complaints regarding GB News.
Grade responded that he couldn't comment as the complaints were still under investigation.
He added that GB News must balance the public's right to know, freedom of expression, and impartiality.