Niche and Mainstream audiences

A niche audience is a targeted group of people that are specific to a media text, it usually consists of a small amount of people. Niche media texts may be shown on less popular television channels and may cost extra, and not during peak times, and is of a non-popular specific interest to a small group of people. Niche audiences must be passive. e.g. wheeler dealers, storage hunters, MUTV, countryfile, peaky blinders etc...

 A mainstream audience is a wider range targeted group of people, which appeals to a larger amount of people. It is shown on the main channels, and during peak times, it consists of programmes which provide a wide range of interest for all audiences, and there is more gratifications appealing to the audience. Mainstream audiences are also developed through an ensemble cast, an example of this is LOST. e.g. x-factor, big brother, eastenders etc...