Niche or Mainstream?

• Niche : Niche describes a form of media aimed at a smaller, more specialised audience than the mainstream, which usually attracts a smaller and less broad audience than the latter.
• An example of a Niche text is 'Bundesliga Football Highlights'. This is a program aired on ITV4 at 10pm every Monday. 
• The Scheduling/Placement of this program is significant as it aimed at a small, audience. With it being German football, its audience would almost be exclusively European football fans, or Followers of the Bundesliga. Te reason for its late scheduling is that ITV know that the audience of this specialised program is small, therefore there will not be as many advertisers interested in advertising within the breaks between this program. Another reason for the scheduling is that due to a smaller audience, it is important that it does not take up mainstream programs time-space,as that is where the money and the viewing figures are for ITV. The fact it is also broadcast on ITV is important, as it is not anywhere near as mainstream or viewed as say ITV2/ITV1. Also, linking to Audience Access, is is not as such a prime time as for example 7pm on a saturday night.
• The Subject content within the program re-enforces its Niche status. as previously stated the fact that the content is exclusively German football highlights, it will provide gratifications for a small specialised audience. The limited content further stresses ITV's decision to air the program on ITV4, where viewing figures will be lower.
• Audience access, not taking into account ITV Player and program recording, is slightly limited at 10pm on a monday night as some of the audience may have gone to bed, gone out, or are watching more mainstream programs on a more prominent channel such as ITV1 or BBC1.
• The Mode Of Address for a program as such is much more niche than 'Match of The Day', which attracts a much broader audience. Prominently because 'Match of The Day' is an English program focussing on English Football. The majority are in turn not as attached to German football as English football, so 'Match of The Day's narrative understandably merits punditry and analysis post-highlights (as there is an audience for it), whereas this is lacking for the 'Bundesliga Football Highlights'. The simple introduction of each Bundesliga match contrasted to the in-depth introduction to 'Match of The Day', emphasises its niche status.

• Mainstream: Mainstream describes program much more likely to be watched by the masses. A mainstream program will most likely be aired at a prime time, generate a lot of money through advertising (depending on how mainstream the show is), and rake in high viewing figures. 
• A good example of an extremely mainstream program would be 'The X Factor'. This program is aired at approx 8pm-9pm every Saturday of the series.
• The Scheduling/Placement of 'The X Factor' is important as it signifies how popular the show is. It is aired at arguably the most popular time in the week, not too late or early, and it is placed here to generate the highest amount of advertising money and viewing figures possible. 8pm-9pm is a time when a lot of people are able and willing to watch TV, and is the prime time for ITV1 to air their program. The fact 'The X Factor' is aired on ITV1 is further indicative of the fact is it a mainstream program, fitting of airing on a mainstream channel.
• The Subject Content of 'The X Factor' is well known by a large audience, it is a singing competition in which contestant are judged upon their performance and are either eliminated or pass through to the next round. It is a very simple formula, and will appease more people as it does not require a lot of concentration and is a very easy watch.
• Audience access is vital to a program like 'The X Factor', because the audience are responsible for it popularity, so it must fit in with the audiences' free time. Being aired at such a popular easily accessible time means that is appeases the audiences needs, and maximises their access to the show.
• Mode of Address is very crucial in the development of 'The X Factor' and the mode has to be designed around the fact it is a mainstream program. 'The X Factor' vaguely follows Todorov's theory, in which the contestant is presented, this being the introduction of equilibrium. The equilibrium is then disrupted by a judges negative/controversial comments, and then restored when they progress to the next round. The narrative follows a strict order, in which contestant are introduced with a small interview, accompanied by music which alters your judgement of the contestant. The contestant then performs, and focus switches to the next contestant. This structure is important as it gratifies the audience and is what the have come to expect from a program such as the x factor.