[DTV]

Regarding comedy being affected by cuts, it's the case that comics nowadays choose not to tie themselves down to doing sitcoms like they would have years ago and do panel shows, quizzes etc instead, so figures will be affected by that.

I think it's the other way round really. Broadcasters have fallen back on panel shows as the base of their comedy output because they're cheap and reliable - the format might change, but the fact it'll be with tried-and-tested comedians from the panel show circuit means you're basically going to get a guaranteed level of laughs regardless. Any investment there will probably work and you'll be able to both use it as a repeats workhorse and sell it on to Dave.

Sitcoms, on the other hand, are more expensive to start with, so are more likely to be reduced in a time of cuts. New sitcoms also carry a greater level of risk than a new panel show - it's harder to know if it'll work and, if it doesn't, then it isn't reuseable or resellable. Hence, the number of returning and new sitcoms has fallen over the cuts era. Sketch shows even more expensive and less reliable - hence why they're virtually extinct. I think it's more choices being made by broadcasters than choices made by comics, but there's a knock-on effect where there are fewer comedy writers around now because of the fewer opportunities.