Match of the Day Dropped by BBC to Cater to Gen-Z Audience

2023-10-20 09:05:04

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BBC axes Match of the Day for Gen-Z

The BBC has quietly cancelled its football spin-off show MOTDx, raising questions about the success of the corporation's efforts to target a younger audience. The show, which combined football, music, and culture, aimed to capture the 16-34 demographic, but has been axed after four years. This news comes shortly after a controversy surrounding the future of Football Focus, which has seen a decline in viewership since the departure of Dan Walker as presenter.

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News of the cancellation emerged following Jermaine Jenas' apology for using offensive language towards a referee during a Premier League match. The decision to cancel MOTDx had been made prior to the start of the season, according to a BBC spokesperson.

MOTDx provided a platform for Jermaine Jenas to hone his presenting skills and sparked speculation that he might replace Gary Lineker on Match of the Day. However, Alex Scott, who currently co-hosts The One Show, has also been linked to the coveted Match of the Day role. Scott's bid may have been affected by the decline in viewership of Football Focus since she took over as presenter.

Football Focus row

Following the decline in Football Focus' viewership, a public disagreement unfolded between Alex Scott and Dan Walker on social media. Walker expressed his affection for the show and suggested its continued relevance, to which Scott responded with a single word, "interesting." Mark Lawrenson, who was recently let go from Football Focus after 25 years, commented that the show had "served its time." However, the BBC maintains that the show remains popular among viewers.

The BBC has been striving to attract a younger audience, but recent polling has revealed that the broadcaster is perceived as uncool by young people. This setback comes after the BBC's attempt to appeal to viewers under 34 by relaunching BBC Three with a dedicated budget of £72 million was met with disapproval from the over-55 age group.

Last year, Tim Davie, the BBC director-general, announced a shift away from the "lurch to youth" strategy.

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