Task 12 - Target audience research

Target audience

An audience can also be called a group of listeners. They are spectators at a public event. Therefore, a target audience is a particular group of people that a product is specifically advertised to and designed for. It is the intended audience for a certain product. It is people that are specifically targeted by corporations. Having a target audience is useful and practical. Not everyone like the same thing and this helps differentiate between different types of people with unique taste – whether their views are mainstream or not. This prevents time and money being spent on advertising for the wrong group of people and prevents grave mistakes.

For example:

Horror movie are targeted to people above the age of 18, thus there is an age rating. This is to prevent people under the age of 18 being exposed to things that they are not mentally or emotionally prepared to watch. Age ratings sensor the media for people (especially young children) and are intended to advise people on what to expect of they watch a certain movie.

However, movies like animations are generally targeted at young children and are hence rated U. This is to tell people that the target audience are young children yet anyone can watch the movie. It is suitable for all audiences.