Niche and mainstream audiences

NICHE VS. MAINSTREAM

Niche audience - A niche audience is a small number of consumers/users who are attracted to a specific subject or area. For example, the television programme Time Team has a specific audience with an interest in history, whereas people without an interest in history may not view the programme in the same way.

County living magazine has a specific audience, as only people that are interested in the specific genre would buy the magazine. The target audience of the magazine would be middle aged/older women, middle/upper class, with a particular interest in home furnishing, baking, sewing, health, gardening etc. The mode of address is formal, appealing to the target audience. The magazine is niche, as only people with an interest of the contents of the magazine would purchase it, for example, a person who particularly enjoys baking may not buy the magazine because of the small number of baking pages, they would purchase a cooking or baking orientated magazine, as this magazine reaches a range of hobbies that can be done around and in the home. The magazine may be available in some shops, but readers are also able to subscribe to the magazine, with a vast website and newsletter, making it easily accessible to its audience. The price of the magazine has risen considerably in the past few years, perhaps because the writers have realised that they have a specific niche audience and not many other magazines offer what they are selling, therefore raising their price because they know that their audience will still buy or subscribe to it.

Breaking Bad is a US television programme, which is niche because of its specific storyline, however as the programme has entered more series', it has become more mainstream and grown in popularity worldwide. Making it more mainstream now than initially, but it still has a very specific target audience. The show is based around drugs, in particular, crystal meth, which is a big problem in America, where the show is a big hit. Meaning that the American audience can relate and identify with the problems in the show, finding about more information about the drug. However, the audience is limited as it features violence and drug use, limiting the age of the viewers. The programme is available on many online websites, including Netflix, where it is the most watched TV series. The show had a few episodes aired on UK television a few years ago but they were unsuccessful, until recently, but as it is not shown on UK television, people wanting to watch it have to look elsewhere, almost guaranteeing that they will like and actually want to watch the programme, as opposed to watching it on television to fill time.

Mainstream audience - Mainstream is considered as the most typical and conventional, because they belong to the same group that most other people use or watch. For example, popular music is mainstream, as many people use and enjoy it.

The X-Factor is a perfect example of mainstream, as people watch it nationally and worldwide. The programme is aired on Saturday night at 8pm - 9pm, which is prime time, attracting the maximum viewing number. People may also watch the programme to gain the ability to socially interact with a friendship group e.g. to fit in and join a conversation about the most recent episode. It is a form of entertainment and relaxation, however as it is mainly live, people watch the shows at the time they are aired on television, as opposed to re-watching the episodes online months or years after the initial airing date, as the event has already passed, limiting its viewing in the longterm.

BBC Radio 1 is mainly known for playing popular (pop) music. This is mainstream because it has a wide national audience who listen to the station often, and even the audience that does not choose to listen to the station are still exposed to the music, in the form of the featured music played in shops and television. The air time is played mostly all of the time, but the more famous radio presenters have shows at peak times, such as the morning show with Greg James and the evening show with Scott Mills. The show is also available to listen to live online and on mobile devices, in addition to the radio. The website is an extension of the radio show, with videos, photographs and blogs, which is edging away from the original radio aspect. Listening to the radio station is also free of charge, widening its audience and making it more easily accessible.