TV
Television: industries and audiences 16/11/23
LO: to search the history, companies and regulators in the television industry
Publicly owned TV channel: broadcasting which receives government subsidies and usually does not have paid advertising interrupting the show
Commercial TV channel: the broadcasting of television programs and radio programming by privately owned corporate media
Convergence: the coming together of technologies and institutions to create a new product of media experience
Watershed: the time of day after which programming content deemed suitable only for mature of adult audiences is permitted
Segmented market: the practice of dividing your target market into approachable groups
Mainstream: the various large mass news media that influence many people and both reflect and shape prevailing currents of thoughts
Self-regulating: the ability to understand and manage your own behaviour and reactions
Franchise: a collection of linked media products derived from single original source. A license from company of a product to use format/show/ideas
Channel-surfing: to change frequently between television channels
PSB: a broadcasting channel who's only intention is to entertain the public, not to make money and have to follow their remit
TV license: a tax that gives you permission to watch live on any channel
Scheduling: what to broadcast and when to ensure an adequate or maximum utilisation of airtime
Conglomerate: a large company composed of a number of companies engaged in generally unrelated businesses
1. TV was introduced to the UK in 1936
2. In 1965, there were 3 channels, BBC, BBC1, BBC2
3. ITV started in 1955, it had adverts
4. ITV, STV, Channel 4 and Channel 5 all have to follow PSB remits
5. Ofcom regulates TV
6. In the 1960s the law regulated TV channels
7. In 1960 cartoons were very popular where as now it's more live action. There wasn't a lot of selection for channels in the 1960s
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Ownership and Regulation 23/11/23
LO: to explore the ownership and regulation of BBC1 and ITV
BBC
- Ofcom regulates TV and radio, they can fine broadcasters if their programmes do not follow their broadcasting codes, they carry out regular reviews
- Because the BBC is a very popular broadcasting channel and most of their money comes from the public paying tv licenses, they have a very strict remit to follow
- Terrestrial: broadcasts using equipment on the ground rather than satellite
- The BBC is granted a license to broadcast by royal charter which must be renewed every 11 years
- Our mission is "to act in the public interest, serving all audiences through the provision of impartial, high-quality and distinctive output and services which inform, educate and entertain".
1. To provide impartial news and information to help people understand and engage with the world around them
2. To support learning for people of all ages
3. To show the most creative, highest quality and distinctive output and services
4. To reflect, represent and serve the diverse communities of all of the United Kingdom’s nations and regions and, in doing so, support the creative economy across the United Kingdom
5. To reflect the United Kingdom, its culture and values to the world
Commercial channels- ITV
- funded through advertising
-small PSB remit because they are terrestrial channels
- they do not have a guaranteed income so they have to be profitable
- can be funded by sponsorships, subscriptions, paper view, competitions, advertising, voting apps for shows such as i'm a celebrity, product placement
- itv is a conglomerate, it is non-profit meaning it goes straight back into creating their television programmes even though they are commercial
- they have to broadcast anything of national importance
-they have to produce a variety of programmes for a wide audience
-they have to produce accessible content
Our purpose is to entertain and connect with millions of people in the UK and globally, reflecting and shaping culture and building brands with brilliant content and creativity. This is aligned to our 2026 strategic vision, to be a leader in UK advertiser-funded streaming and an expanding global force in content.Our Social Purpose strategy is an integral part of delivering our purpose and our strategic vision.Our initiatives to drive growth and future value are clear. Delivering our vision will be achieved by focusing on three strategic pillars:
- Expand Studios
- Supercharge Streaming
- Optimise Broadcast
These pillars are not independent. They work together – reinforcing each other, creating synergies and delivering value. Being a vertically integrated producer broadcaster and streamer provides us with a real competitive advantage.
The key to successfully delivering this strategy is through digital transformation across everything we do. We will have a laser focus on viewers and every decision will combine our unique creativity with data insight.
Executing our strategy effectively will further strengthen and diversify ITV, create a more valuable future facing digital media and entertainment company and deliver returns to our shareholders.
-The most popular show on itv is love island
- ITV have so many reality TV shows because they are really popular genres and that will make them the most money because more people will pay to sponsor in the adverts
- the most expensive show to make was Love island
Duopoly in the 1960s
- it is referred to as the golden age of broadcasting in the uk but there were only 3 channels to choose from
- most people owned a tv but not everyone owned a coloured tv
- because not many people had coloured tv, programmes were usually made in black and white as it cost more to make them in colour
- they would make their programmes in house, meaning they had a duopoly where two organisations were in control of everything - BBC or ITV
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TV Audiences 14/12/23
LO: to explore how audiences consume TV dramas and the appeals
- live on tv
- catch up tv
- laptop. ipad, iphone,, sky go
- recorded tv
- streaming
time shifted - not live tv
second screening - anything when you are encouraged to join discussions
Reasons people like live tv;
- interactivity
- second screening
- it doesn't get spoiled
- so you know what everyone around you will be talking about
- excitement of being part of something
Theory: the active audience
This focus on debates as to whether an audience is active or passive
A passive audience accepts and believes everything a media text tells them. they are easily influenced and don't question any messages conveyed
An active audience interacts with a media text and makes its own decisions about whether to accept and believe everything. they question messages and may interpret meanings differently
We are more active as an audience because we have more places to receive information from and more opinions are being voiced these days, for example we have multiple news channels and magazines to give off more opinions. we have much easier access to more media and lots oof different messages in order o make up our own opinions
Scheduling
Deciding when to put certain shows on to get the most audience depending on the time
Competitive scheduling creates publicity for the shows
Peak viewing time is 6:00pm - 10:30pm
Audience ratings are measured by the broadcasters' audience research board (BARB)
The Watershed
The time of day after which programming content deemed suitable only for mature of adult audiences is permitted
It is between 9pm and 5:30am
During these hours, broadcasters can show content that is not suitable for children under the age of 15, 18 rated content can't be showed until after 10pm
Serial TV drama
Serial Tv drama is any television drama that is organised into a series of episodes, usually in between 3 and 12 episodes in a series, more than one series, the story unfolds after episodes and the characters evolve as the season continues
popular sub genres:
- crime drama Top Boy
- period drama The Crown
- teen drama One of us is Lying
- medical drama Chicago Med
- science fiction drama Glitch
- fantasy drama The Boys
- political drama The Good Wife
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DO NOW
1960s
- Elvis Presley comeback
- television introduced
- ITV introduced
- The Beatles
- Mini skirts
- England won the world cup
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The 1960s 11/01/24
LO: research the social, historical and political context of the Avengers
Berlin wall was built - 1961
The voting rights act was passed - 1965
First man into space - 1961
JFK was assassinated - 1963
The Civil Rights Act was passed - 1964
1. the Beatles and the rolling stones were the most popular bands in the 1960s
2. the labour party was in power in 1965
3. illegal drugs were a big part of culture in the 60s for hippies
4. Vietnam war, the cold war were being fought in the 60s
5. the Vietnam war, free speech, civil rights, the environment and racism were being protested for in the UK in the 60s
6. birth control changed women's lives in 1960s
The Cold War
- wasn't a physical war
- there was tension between the soviet block and the western powers
- Britain was in NATO meaning a group who agreed to support each other in the face of a soviet attack
Threat of Nuclear War
- Soviet Union and the US were building up their armies and weapons
- 1962 the Cuban missile crisis took two countries to the brink of nuclear war
Espionage
- a way to find out what the other side was doing and planting false information
- a number of double agents were found guilty and either were defected or imprisoned
- this meant espionage was common in tv shows and movies
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The Avengers (1965) 18/01/24
LO: research the tv show the Avengers
1. ITV and ABC produced the show
2. the primary audience was a mainstream adult audience and the secondary audience was older teenagers
3. the first episode aired on 7th January 1961
4. there were 6 seasons
5. the last episode aired on 21st April 1969
6. the budget for series 4 was £56,000 per episode
- Patrick Macnee (male main character)
- Diana Rigg (female main character)
- They called the female character Emma Peel to appeal to men "m appeal"
$2 million deal with abc, shot on film because of this
Diana Rigg played Emma Peel
Patrick Macnee played John Steed
John Steed was a traditional spy to appeal to older generation
The man in charge was called mother
Emma Peel was for the male gaze, she represented the younger generation
The first time there was a female character with a very similar status to the man
Appealed to a working class audience as it was a humoured spy thriller, exciting and fantastical narrative to target working class
The avengers aired on Saturdays at 9:05 at night, this was peak time as people were home watching tv
The 4th series attracted an audience of about 7 million and was often in the top ten ratings
summary of:
- the narrative story line
- the characters
- how the episode shows the social and cultural context (the mid 60s)
- audience appeal
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DO NOW
- two main characters called Emma Peel and John Steed
- Emma Peel was named for the male gaze "m appeal"
- the man in charge was called mother
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The Avengers: The town of no return 25/01/24
LO: to explore the narrative, characters and appeal of series 4, episode 1
Characters:
- John Steed
- Emma Peel
- Piggy Warren
- Mrs Mansen
- Tom Smallwood
- Mr Mark Brandon
-Fisherman stereotype with hat and chunky knit jumper
-Stereotypical British gentleman
-"It looks like rain" always rains in England
-Emma Peel's apartment, top floor, suggests she is wealthy, lives in the city, modern for the 1960s
-Emma Peel represents the modern generation
-John Steed represents the older generation - suit, bowler hat, umbrella
-John steed is in charge even though they are relatively similar in role - he books the train, he won the fencing match - patriarchal society
-Stereotype of British people loving tea - drinking tea on the train
-Breaking stereotypes because Steed was pouring the tea and setting everything out whilst Peel watched
-They have been sent to see what is going on Little Bazeley - Emma peel becomes a primary school teacher
-They act like they don't know each other on the train
-It is windy on the island - pathetic fallacy
-Stereotypical British pub
-Stereotypical British weather
-Shows inequality towards men and women, he forced a drink upon her at the pub
-Stereotypically ex-army officer man in the pub, exaggerated moustache, hair style, speaks very posh
-Women role - school teacher
-Men role - school inspector
-Wonky pictures, clogged tap, dusty furniture, no hot water, holes in the towels shows the quality of the place that they are staying in
-graphic match, focuses on gas mask and then cuts to a skull on the gravestone (connotations of death)
as well as whistle of a kettle and whistle of train
-Low angle shot suggesting danger, threat and power
-Footprints on the floor, at school at night
-Cross cutting, cutting between two scenes
-Log fire smoking - hasn't been cleaned or used
-Extreme close up showing fear/emotion
-Flirty relationship between Emma and John
-Bird sounds shows it's morning
-'bend the rules if need be" foreshadowing
-Waving umbrella suggesting that he leads with that a lot, weapon
-Zooming in on Emma Peels legs
-Emmas hat, gloves, and shoes are all very fashionable - symbolic of the younger generation
-Sound when Steed comes on camera suggests he used to be in the military at some point
-33 Squadron, man from the pub
-The man who says he's Piggy Warren is fake because he's actually dead
-The man who says he's Tom Smallwood is fake
-Mark Brandon school inspector but someone was impersonating him
-Vicar stereotypical, talks about the choir, talks about the church needing work, his flock
-People stealing other's identity
-Anti stereotypical because Emma Peel was not scared when three men came onto her with a gun
-Ex-officer lying about where Emma peel went and saying she randomly left town
-Links to the fear of invasion going on at the time that this tv show was at it's peak/being made
-Shaky video, hand held camera, making it seem more dramatic and first person
-Boxes of explosives and weapons
-Women fighting is only hair pulling but men get punching and forward rolls
-Uniform looks very similar to German/Russian war uniform
-Emma Peel drives the motorbike and John Steed sat on the back however she almost crashes and Steed has to rescue her
-Lower Bazely
-Weird scene at the beginning would've been automatically linked o spying and espionage
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01/02/24
DO NOW
- Emma Peel and John Steed are the two main characters
- There are lots of stereotypes such as British, Fisherman, British pub, British weather, ex-army officer
- Emma Peel appeals to men "M appeal"
- They have to go to a place in the countryside where multiple spies had disappeared from previously to find out what has happened
- John Steed is a stereotypical British gentleman, represents the older generation
- Emma Peel not a stereotypical woman of a stay at home mother, represents the younger generation, strong independent woman who has her own job, very fashionable still objectified in terms of what she wears
- Piggy Warren (ex-army officer) stereotypical and exaggerated
- Stereotypical and exaggerated blacksmith with horse shoe in his hand
- you can see how what was happening in the episode shows peoples fears of invasion that was happening at the time
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The Avengers: The town of no return 01/02/24
LO: to explore the narrative, characters and appeal of series 4, episode 1
Personal identity - John Steed representing the older generation being traditional and well dressed, Emma Peel representing the younger generation being fashionable and quick. People may have been jealous of the characters and wanted to be like them
Information - the cold war was present as this was being filmed and people can recognise hints of this in the episode. Learning about lives of secret agents and lives of the upper class, they could feel reassured that if these things were happening in real life that there could be two ordinary people able to protect them and feel safe. This series was being shoes in USA so they would get a sense of britishness through all the stereotypes
Entertainment - It would've been seen as very funny for people in the 60s and shone light on their fears of invasion. It would've. been quite a sophisticated and high tech world for them, it also would've been engaging as they may have ben trying to figure out was happening before the agents do. escapist and exciting about the danger the hero's find themselves in. a new episode every week, very engaging and something to look forward to - repetitive formula every week
Social interaction - People would've been talking about it as it was a very popular and a new show, people also could've watched it together. It would've encouraged social interaction as no one had any phones to talk about something together and also one tv per house hold so it would be something for everyone to watch together and talk about it whilst watching. also you can'y watch it again so if you missed it then you would have to get your friends to catch you up on it. could build a personal relationship with the characters as you watch them sp frequently
The fact that the episode was filmed on sets mostly but with no green screen would've appealed to an audience because i as different than anything they had seen before
Emma peels outfits would've appealed to an audience as well as lots of different people would have been interested in what she was wearing next episode
The editing also would have interested an audience as it wasn't like what they were used to and it was new and sophisticated
Major concerns at the time:
- Cold war: The uniforms of the invading army looked like they could've been German or Russian, German language - not explicitly said but suggested it was part of the soviet block
- Threat of nuclear war: The was a weapons store in a bunker
- Threat of foreign invasion: The fact that the people were trying to invade the area and take over, the whole story line of the army slowly invading
- Espionage: The main characters were spies, lots of people were impersonating other people
Reassuring because the spies (Steed and Peel) won, and it's a comedy/lighthearted, neither of the spies seem particularly worried about the situation so therefore that means the audience doesn't need to be worried about it either, helps to undermine the seriousness of any threat
Reassurance
References to WW2 - the scene where steed walks around the deserted airfields and doffs his hat to his reflection is a salute to all those involved in WW2 and reminds the audience that Britain triumphed
Humour - they make light of the situation by never being worried about anything and also when Emma steed is talking to Steed about the plan whilst he is sat at a desk and she is explaining it on the chalkboard makes him seem like he is a school boy listening to his teacher
Melodrama - exaggerated stereotypes throughout the episode such as the blacksmith who was always holding a horse shoe, the exaggerated British stereotype f tea and biscuits on the train, stereotypical vicar always talking about his flock and choir
Casting and performance - male and female protagonist, could suggest that the viewers don't need to worry because even though there is a woman being the protagonist, there is also a man to save the day. It could provide reassurance for the viewers as if a woman could defeat the threat of invasion then that could mean that they could handle it as well
Commitment to duty - the never stop or let their guard down and also they never seem worried about the situation, thy would never give up or never quit which would've provided reassurance for the viewer as they could see their commitment
Representation of the enemy - they are presented as smart but not as smart as the main characters, they also seem to be in a German or Russian style uniform in the underground bunker. They were marching around standing their ground
Explain how social contexts influence television programmes. Refer to The Avengers from 1965 to support your answer [10]
Social context really influenced television programmes. For example in The Avengers from 1965, "The Town of no Return", the fact that there was a threat of foreign invasion happening at the time really impacted how the episode went, this is because of the storyline where people were trying to invade the area of Little Bazely and take over. However the episode would have really reassured the viewers during this threat as we see at the end that the spies Emma Peel and John Steed defeated the other people and that they never gave up on winning. The fact that there was a woman protagonist could've added a sense of humour to the episode as the idea of a woman defeated something could've been seen as humorous. However there was a lot more gender equality as this time, it wasn't perfect but it was still good as the main characters had quite a lot of equality even though Steed had more control in the relationship.
Social context did influence television programmes
LO: to explore elements of media language and practice how to analyse an extract
Question 1
- analyse the extract with one particular area of media language to create meaning:
mise en scene
camera work
sound
editing
Camerawork
- shot type
- movement
- angle
Canted angle is a diagonal shpt used when something isn't quite right
Steadicam means you get a lot smoother shots
Focus pull is where the camera stays in the same place but only certain things are in focus and it changes
Shallow focus is when the foreground is in focus but everything else is out of focus
When Emma Peel opens the door to John Steed having beat up all the soldiers, we can see that it was her point of view due to the shaky movement of the hand held camera and the tracking of where her eyes were going. The shaky exaggerates the violence and the drama.
The long shot showing the three antagonists walking down the stairs holding the guns, this is to show us what they're holding and it emphasised the danger they were in and the fact that there was no escape.
Mise-en-scene
Costume - everyone is dressed respectfully either in a suit and tie or a shirt, Emma Peel wearing trousers subverting stereotypes but implies that she is ready for action
Low key lighting - in the local pub the lighting is relatively dark, this suggests that it is dark outside and could suggest that they don't have that much money as they can't afford to light the pub very much
Moustache - the pub owner had a large moustache which is stereotypical for an ex army soldier
Editing
Graphic match is when something cuts to another thing however they are very similar such as the skull on the gravestone and the gas mask
29/02/24
Editing is effects added on after production
cutting on action - cutting from one shot to another whilst the subject is still in motion
cut away - cutting to an insert shot of something, and then back, commonly used for a flashback
cross cutting - when the editor intercuts back and forth between a situation, commonly used for phone calls or two things happening at the same time
jump cut - when the editor jumps between the same shot, often used to show the passing of time
match cut/ graphic match - cutting from one shot to a similar shot either by matching an object, sound or the composition. it links the scene
transitions
fade in / fade out - dissolving to or from black blending the two shots, can represent time passing
dissolving between two different scenes, it connects those scenes
dissolving within a shot but people disappear, suggests passing time
how is editing being used to create meaning?
-fade in from black represents time passing
-candle flame fire to fire in the blacksmiths building, graphic match linking the two scenes, it is also the same composition, they do this because the link between talking about Emma peel and then cutting to a place could suggest that she is in that building
-cut away, cuts to Emma Peels bags after Piggy had said she went home, this tells us Piggy is lying and we are in the perspective of Steed so the audience knows what Steed knows
-cutting on action, fight scene with the blacksmith, this shows drama, tension, and drama. it is a convention of action sequences and shows the movement within the scene
-when the fighting scene begins, the length of the shots become shorter, this emphasises the fast speed of the fight to add tension and excitement
They have used a graphic match to link the two scenes of John Steed and Piggy Warren talking about Emma Peel in the pub, to then cut to John Steed at the blacksmith's. They do this by matching the scene of the candle flame that Steed is holding and then cutting to the fire at the blacksmith's. This suggests that because the two men were talking about Emma Peel and then cutting to a building, that Emma Peel could be in that building or that the blacksmith knows where Emma Peel was.
Sound
diegetic - the main character can hear
non diegetic - the main character can not hear, it has been put on after filming
sound bridge - connects two scenes
parallel sound - the sound matches what you're seeing
contrapuntal sound - the sound doesn't match what you're seeing
silence - no sound
-contrapuntal sound, dogs barking but we can't see them. This connotes to danger and a warning
-contrapuntal sound, choir singing but we cant see them but then it gets revealed that there is a music player playing the music
-supposedly diegetic music when the gun gets pulled out, it is almost as if a large church organ was playing, very low suggesting there is a threat, very dramatic, sounds like a church organ because they are in a church and he is supposed to be a vicar
-diegetic music, when the vicar reveals he knows Emma Peel is an imposter, the music stops and fade out, this is to show that she is in danger and it is an important scene, so the music stops so the audience focuses on the actual scene
They have used diegetic music in the scene where Emma Peel confronts the vicar about the imposters, this music of a serious, low and slow paced church choir singing fades out and completely stops when it is revealed that the vicar knows Emma Peel isn't who she says she is. They do this to imply that Emma Peel is in danger and that it is an important scene, so they stop any distractions so that the audience can completely focus on the situation at hand.
DO NOW
1. camerawork, sound, mise-en-scene, editing
2. at least two
3. 5 marks
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------The avengers: extract analysis 07/03/24
LO: to explore extract based questions and how to answer them effectively
graphic match - flame from the candle then matching to he flame from the fire in the blacksmith's, this links the two scenes of John Steed and Piggy Warren talking about Emma Peel, to a building which implies that Emma Peel is near that building or that the blacksmith knows where Emma Peel is.
cross cutting - when John Steed and the blacksmith were fighting, the scenes kept getting cut to show the perspective of each character, this emphasises the tension and shows us how close the two men were
In the extract there is a graphic match when John Steed and Piggy Warren were talking about Emma Peel whilst holding a candle tick, and the flame from that matches to the flame from the fire in the blacksmith's, this implies that because they were talking about Emma in the clip before, that the blacksmith knows where Emma is or she is near by. There is also cross cutting when John Steed and the blacksmith were fighting, the scene kept getting cut to show the change of perspective of each character, this emphasises the tension and shows us how close the characters were to each other, emphasises the danger.
28/03/24
DO NOW
- in the episode that we watched, the police weren't respected, they were represented as people who don't hold any power or authority over the public
- they were trying to do their job but the challenges they faced disrupted that
- realistic representation of being in the police force
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Cuffs and Social Contexts 25/04/24
LO: to analyse representation and influence of social and cultural contexts in Cuffs
PC Jake Vickers - He is represented as a naive and inexperienced man who has been sheltered by his dad for his whole life and is being shown the real world which he isn't prepared. He is keen and willing to learn whilst trying to impress and live up to expectations. Even though he is gay, it doesn't disrupt his masculinity as he is presented as a stereotypical man who throws punches, which shows us that 2015 was an inclusive time and they were more accepting of different sexualities.
DI Felix Kane - He is represented as a mentally tough man who doesn't let much get to him however he has a big heart and is willing to help anyone who needs it. He is originally represented as a stereotypical man through his emotions but he lets it slip through empathy. He is an isolated character and regularly works alone out of his own choice.
Ryan is seen as a very masculine character through things like the power that he holds. He was trusted to mentor the chief's son and is greatly respected by his peers. As well as this he is determined and courageous when out handling car chases or ram-raid calls, showing that he is not scared and he is presented very masculine. However he also has feminine qualities such as his reaction to members of the public such as drug addicts, he is very gentle with them and understands what they need, he is also shown to be a single parent who loves and cares for his children taking on a maternal role by doing things such as brushing his daughters hair.
There is a diverse range of ethnicities represented in the cast, an example of this is through the main character Ryan who is black. As well as this we can see that racism still exists in Britain through the racist attacker but he was represented very negatively which is shown throughout the episode. The police dealt with the crimes with the same level of seriousness and urgency no matter the race or ethnicity of the victim/criminal which tells us that all races and ethnicities are accepted.
1. DS Jo Moffat is shown to have issues in her personal life with her dog, there is another man who's wife has cancer and a possible affair is implied
2. The younger generation is shown to be more physically fit as they were running around and actively defending people
3. Jake is youngest and is inexperienced whereas the chief is older and has a lot of experience
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