National Programming

1
National Programming

• p. 249-275

2
Prime-Time Network Programming

• The most popular programming appears on
  prime-time.
• There are several different formats of series
  that appear on prime-time
• Short run miniseries is a popular format that
  appear in prime-time.

3
Prime-Time Network Programming

• Audience shares are the lifeblood of the modern
  media industry.
• Average viewership has been in decline for the
  past thirty years.
• Network television averages five million viewers.
  (Cable 110,000)

4
Situation Comedies

• Sitcoms are formulaic
• A group of engaging characters
• Plots are sprung onto characters (as opposed to
  being developed)
• Characters have a series of marked traits.
• They are seen as conventional, very rarely
  breaking social taboo.

5
A structural analysis of

• How could one compare and contrast the two shows?
• Is there a major difference between the two shows
  beyond their masks?
• Social Taboos?

6
Different Types of Sitcoms

• Slobcom The Counter-Sitcom with less than ideal
  family situation

• Dramedies A blend of comedy and drama design
  to increase the texture of the show.

7
Different Types of Sitcoms

• Cross-Genre A show that elements from sitcoms
  and other types of shows.

• Quirky A sitcom that defies contemporary
  description

8
A Thematic Approach to Sitcoms

• Nuclear Family (The Simpsons)
• Single-Parent Family (Empty Nest)
• Unconventional Family (My Two Dads)
• Workplace (Murphy Brown)
• African-American (Bernie Mac)
• Female-Dominated (Roseanne)

9
Spinoffs and Clones

• Spinoff- Secondary characters from a previous hit
  on a network put into a new setting.

• Clone A series of imitations that follow the
  pattern established by a successful show.

10
Other Types of Shows

• Crime Shows
• Medical Dramas
• Movies
• Music and Variety
• Reality Television

11
Miniseries

• Roots, a 14-hour adaptation of a bestseller
  started the trend toward miniseries.
• Lonesome Dove and the Thornsbirds also led the
  way for miniseries.
• The miniseries is in decline today. (e.g. The
  Tenth Kingdom)

12
Music and Variety

• American Bandstand
• Your Hit Parade
• MTV VH1
• Behind the Music
• Before They Were Rock Stars

13
Non-Prime-Time Network TV

• Networks fill the early-morning daypart with
  newscast and talk, weekends with sports
• Soaps, games, and talk shows dominate daytime
  network television just as they once dominated
  daytime network radio
• Late night fare consist mostly of talk and
  comedy/variety programs.

14
Network TV Sports

• By 1990, combined broadcast/cable rights payments
  for on the spot sports events exceeded a billion
  dollars.
• Cable, because it can fill the niche role of
  broadcasting can use sports to increase a
  networks market share.
• However, there are some serious issues with
  televising sports.

15
Childrens Programs

• FCC declared the broadcast networks should have a
  minimum of three hours of educational childrens
  programming on per week. (E/I)
• Nickelodeon is still the front runner for
  childrens programming on cable.

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So What?Why is this important?

• In order to be able to understand the message and
  forces behind a show, you must remove the mask
  of the show.
• Formulas in the media exist for a reason, they
  have been proven successful.
• To break the mold set up by the media, you must
  understand the rules behind it.