Wednesday 16 January 2019

Introduction into TV drama

LFTVD- Long form TV drama

  • 2 questions: 30&15 marker
  • Stranger Things and Deutschland 83
  • Long series narrative- Tv drama series with a number of episodes to create a narrative
Network TV:

  • US network broadcasters must satisfy their advertisers and hold market share. They are controlled by federal regulation.
  • The impact of this on content is a reliance on highly formalised genre conventions and normative values which meet mainstream audience expectations but generate conservative drama. 
Cable Television: 
  • Launched JBN in the 1970s, HBO was the first US national subscription cable TV channel. 
  • Other US players include FX, Showtime, & AMC. Many are subsidiaries of media conglomerates (HBO/Warner, FX/Fox)
  • These subscription based cable channels can take more risks with what they produce. 
  • By early 2000s The Sopranos and The Wire won awards, audiences creating 'water cooler' TV.  
UK TV Drama:
  • UK broadcasters have failed to meet the challenge of the US cable channels move to long form with their risk. 
  • BBC and ITV 90s- relied on genre-based, formula drama.
  • Sky co-opted success of US long form with Sky Atlantic however, commissioning remains tightly controlled with a conservative outlook
Subscription VOD (Viewing on demand)
  • Content viewing via a TV still dominates in the UK.
  • 3/4 UK households have PVR (Personal video recording) uptake but it has plateaued 
  • Use of timeshift is increasing (You can watch whenever)
  • Growth of SVOD (Streaming video on demand). Web based channels such as Netflix, Amazon Prime and Now TV is considerable. 
  • Netflix dominates with 24% of UK market & 5 million subscribers. 10% growth 2015-16
Audiences:
  • Rise in binge watching started with DVD in late 90s/early C21. Partially due to syndication problems in the UK.
  • A move from 'Water cooler' to 'Shared universe' fandom (as with cinema)
  • US long form drama often uses Easter eggs, and mid-season breaks to generate fan intensity and maintain a media profile. 
Why audiences love LFTVD:
  • High quality drama
  • Multiple episodes, hours, years
  • Content can be dark and difficult but innovative 
  • It now attracts some of the best and innovative writers and actors
  • Time shifting, easily accessible 
  • Keeps people invested due to lots of creativity 
  • Characters and themes change and develop
  • Lots of different networks compete
  • The show can cater to specific taste
'State of Nation' TV:
  • LFTVD challenged the simply story lines and stereotypical characters that dominate network TV in US.
  • CULTURAL ZEITGEIST

- Genres: LFTVD fits most: etc comedy, horror, thriller, mystery, drama, crime
- Themes: Any: etc relationships, murder, power, war, coming of age, family
- Narratives: Variety of all different worlds which are different to normality
- Characters: Interesting to watch and engaging so they are watched over long periods of time
- Production Values: Usually range from 4 million to 5 million per episode. 
- Methods/Platforms: Terrestrial TV, Cable TV, Subscriptions, Streaming 
- State of Nation: Escapist for the viewers, different to their everyday life.
- Memes/Accessories: Depends how popular the series is, especially the newer, more modern ones

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