4a. Compare how and why two programmes were scheduled on different channels. [15 Marks]
In this question you will be asked about ONE, TWO or ONE OR TWO comedy programmes. Make one of these Case Studies your main one and make sure that you have FIVE good examples of different scheduling techniques. Then revise TWO OR THREE from the second Case Study to use to compare these to if the question needs it. In the introduction make sure that you state the PROGRAMME, CHANNEL, DAY and TIME of the programmes needed. You need to spend FIFTEEN MINUTES on this question.
Remember....
The Big Bang Theory, E4, Thursday, 8.30 pm
Have I Got News For You, BBC1, Friday, 9pm
Starter Sentences
¤ Topic Sentence
“One of the ways that (the broadcaster) tries to make the scheduling of (the programme) a success is through the use of..."
¤ Evidence
“This is shown when…”
¤ Explain
“The use of (whatever was used in the example above) aims to...”
¤ Start the next point with:
“Another way in which…”
See below....
The Big Bang Theory
BBT Time
•BBT is scheduled before the watershed, so has to be a programme that is suitable for children. It fits this requirement because, though it does contain some sexual content, it is not sexually explicit, or violent, and it does not contain excessive bad language. It is, however, a slick and reasonably adult comedy that would appeal to a teenage audience.
E4 use Counterprogramming, it is on at a good time as.. Two major rivals of E4 are airing programmes offered at different audiences and from different genres. BBC2 is showing a nature documentary aimed at an older audience than TBBT and BBC3 is targeting a slightly different audience with their documentary series Don't Tell The Bride being aimed chiefly at a slightly older and more female audience than TBBT.
E4 use Tent poling, it is on at a good time as...
The Big Bang Theory is an established programme - 9 series and counting - which has been popular for many years. The two programmes either side E4 - 8:00pm 2 Broke Girls and E4 - 9:00pm Brooklyn Nine-Nine are relatively new and so to help them build a following it is hoped that watchers of The Big Bang Theory will give these programmes a chance and possibly work them into their evening viewing plans.
Thursday
Thursday night is good for comedy as it is a wind-down time of the week, so BBC 1 always shows comedy at this time. Also most young people would be out on a Friday.
By placing TBBT during a large block of similar programmes (E4 - 7:30-11:40pm Block of US comedies - Eg. How I met your mother) E4 are hoping that the popular programme will lure audiences in and that the continuity of programming will create broadcast flow thus keeping this young audience throughout the whole evening of viewing therefore increasing their market share.
Channel E4
•E4 is part of a public institution - Channel 4 is owned by the British public and is not designed to make a profit. However, E4 is a commercial channel and a non-PSB digital channel. This means that E4 can show any programmes that it thinks will attract an audience, in any order .
•E4 can import lots of cheap American programmes like BBT.
•E4 can show the same programme twice in a stripped schedule (e.g. at 2pm 6pm 8pm every weekday).
•E4 are competing with lots of different digital channels, so it needs to have a schedule that is easy for the casual viewer to understand - so it strips programmes across the week (also good for young people to remember!).
We know it targets a Young audience because...
•It has a fast pace - Opening sequence
•Young adult main characters
•Often incorporates rock, pop and indie music Opening sequence
•Similar visual style to other sitcoms aimed at young audiences, such as How I met your Mother
Also...The logo
- The 'E' stands for Entertainment (its funny) this appeals to young people.
It is Purple and quite funky which signifies its for a young adult audience.
Have I Got News For You
HIGNFY Time
•Have I Got News For You is scheduled just after the watershed.
This means it is allowed to feature adult content, which is important for a topical news show. BBC1 has made some assumptions about the audience by airing HIGNFY at this time. The adult nature of the programme assumes that children will be in bed because of the Watershed. There is also an assumption that adults will want to watch a more intellectually challenging programme at this time as they are not being distracted by children or cooking dinner etc
This means it is allowed to feature adult content, which is important for a topical news show. BBC1 has made some assumptions about the audience by airing HIGNFY at this time. The adult nature of the programme assumes that children will be in bed because of the Watershed. There is also an assumption that adults will want to watch a more intellectually challenging programme at this time as they are not being distracted by children or cooking dinner etc
· The block of comedies that is aired on BBC1 on Friday nights is built upon when at 10pm BBC offers the audience the choice to switch to BBC3 and another comedy or stay on BBC1 for the news. Both of these choices have a link with the HIGNFY audience and whatever decision the audience make the BBC are hoping that they will be kept watching a BBC channel through the continuity announcer and Now, Next and Later at the end of Mrs Brown's Boys.
· After HIGNFY on BBC1 - 9:30pm Mrs Brown's Boys and at 10:00pm News At Ten
As Mrs Brown's Boys is far less established that HIGNFY - in it's 49th series - and the News At Ten - a traditional important time for news broadcasts - the BBC are hoping that the more established programmes will help to boost the ratings of the relatively new comedy show. It would benefit from the fact that the programme before it is also a comedy which might appeal to a similar audience. This is called Hammocking (think inbetween!).
As Mrs Brown's Boys is far less established that HIGNFY - in it's 49th series - and the News At Ten - a traditional important time for news broadcasts - the BBC are hoping that the more established programmes will help to boost the ratings of the relatively new comedy show. It would benefit from the fact that the programme before it is also a comedy which might appeal to a similar audience. This is called Hammocking (think inbetween!).
BBC
The BBC is not funded by advertising but by the license fee.
•Therefore it is a PSB (Public Service Broadcaster) and has a duty to educate, inform and entertain the whole British public.
It covers serious subjects like politics, news and events but is also funny.
It is both entertaining and educational. Ian Hislop was chosen as he is a moralistic journalist who has serious opinions about news. It was originally expected that Paul Merton would provide the jokes and Ian Hislop would provide the opinion. This gives the programme the opportunity to inform, as well as entertain.
•PSB channels have to show a lot of original material
It is an original programme and not imported
• PSB channels have to have a mixed schedule with different genres of programmes
It is only on once a week, there is another show 'Have I Got A Bit More News For you' although similar it is not the same programme.
To be worth the license fee money means BBC1 programmes have to be popular = Mainstream HIGNFY proved itself-popular when it was shown on BBC2 so thus justified its move to BBC1.
HIGNFY is for an older audience, aimed at those interested in the news
HIGNFY fits this as it often asks questions about political events. Therefore it addresses an audience who would be more likely to read newspapers
Pleasure: Uses and gratification - Information/ Personal Identity
Pleasure: Uses and gratification - Social interaction/ Entertainment (Emotional release)
Pleasure: Familiarity/ Predictable/ relatable to characters
Have I Got News For You
4b. Compare the audience pleasures offered by two comedy programmes. Give examples from the programmes. [15 Marks]
In this question you will be asked to write about the same programme(s) that you used in 4a. Make one of these Case Studies your main one (TBBT) and make sure that you have FIVE good examples from a range of audience theories. Then revise TWO OR THREE from the second Case Study (HIGNFY) to use to compare these to if the question needs it. In the introduction make sure that you state the PROGRAMME and GENRE of the programme(s) you are using. When using examples make sure that you know either SERIES and EPISODE details or the episode TITLE. You need to spend FIFTEEN MINUTES on this question.
Starter Sentences
¤ Topic Sentence
“One of the ways that (the programme) offers an audience pleasure is through..."
¤ Evidence
“In episode ___ this is shown when…”
¤ Explain
“The use of (whatever was used in the example above) aims to...”
¤ Start the next point with:
“Another way in which…”
¤ Topic Sentence
“One of the ways that (the programme) offers an audience pleasure is through..."
¤ Evidence
“In episode ___ this is shown when…”
¤ Explain
“The use of (whatever was used in the example above) aims to...”
¤ Start the next point with:
“Another way in which…”
Examples...Don't worry so much about the theory, the specific example is the most important part and the actual 'Pleasure' - Dont forget to state the series and episode...
Pleasures we looked at in class included...
Pleasures we looked at in class included...
· Social and family issues often used (audience can relate to)
· Themes are easy for audiences to understand
· Different types of humour
· Different types of humour
· Use of celebrities · Familiarity (e.g. Catchphrases, same cast, same format)
· Predictability – For example: audiences know character well and know how they will react.
You should already have specific examples eg....
· Social and family issues often used (audience can relate to) - shown when Howard thinks about putting his mother in a home. This is something many people would have to go through or will need to think about in the future, so we can relate to this which creates pleasure.
"The Gorilla Dissolution" Season 7, Episode 23
"The Gorilla Dissolution" Season 7, Episode 23
.......If you don't here are some below....
The Big Bang Theory
Pleasure: Damage Joy/ Audience Superiority/ Happiness at the misfortune of others
Have I Got News For You
Examples we looked at in class included...
· New variations of the genre create interest
· Learning about the world and events
· Reinforces your personal views
· Challenges your personal views
· Sense of security know what is going on in the world and listening to other people's opinions about these events
· The poor and less powerful feel better about themselves
If you don't have the specific examples for these you can use the ones below....
To help you answer power points and sample essays below
Overview of Section B exam
Sitcom Codes and Conventons
E4 and BBC one Channel Information
CBS - Network who produces BBT
Scheduling Programmes on TV and Scheduling Tricks
Key Big Bang Theory Info
Male Gaze and BBT
SAMPLE ESSAY- Section B
Sample Essay - This is for two different Programmes NOT the ones your doing. Make sure you look at the examiners notes too!
Unit B322 - Section B Answer to specimen exam question
4a) Pick two TV or radio comedies you have studied. Discuss why they were scheduled:
- on the channels that chose them
- on the days and times they were transmitted. (15)
My two comedies are Have I Got News For You and Scrubs.
Have I Got News For You is scheduled on BBC 1 at 9pm on Thursday nights and is repeated with extra bits on Saturdays on BBC2. It fits BBC 1 as it is a mainstream programme that will appeal to a wide audience because it is funny. It is also educational as it covers serious subjects like politics, so this makes it fit public service broadcasting. It is essential the BBC fits public service broadcasting because it is funded by the licence fee and so has to have some reason for charging everyone to watch it.
Thursday night is good for comedy as it is a wind-down time of the week, so BBC 1 always shows comedy at this time. The BBC runs its comedy zone on Thursday nights. After 9pm is good as it is after the watershed and therefore the programme can contain swearing and adult content. The programme that follows (Reggie Perrin) is a comedy as well, this is so it can inherit Have I Got News For You’s audience. The programme can also be watched on the BBC iPlayer.
Scrubs is shown on E4. It shows six episodes a day at 13:05, 13:35, 6:00, 6:30, 00:40, and 01:10 on every weekday, but not at weekends. Scrubs fits E4 because it is a channel aimed at young people – the same target audience as the programme. It is fits because E4 shows a lot of comedy shows, ‘cool’ shows from America. E4 can do this as it is a niche channel that is not covered by PSB regulations as it is not a terrestrial channel. This means that it can have stripped schedules and repeat programmes over and over again that are aimed at young people. This makes it easier for young people to know what is going to be on E4.
Scrubs is shown at the moment at lunchtimes, early evenings and late at night because these are repeated episodes and not considered important enough for prime time. It can also be watched on 4oD.
The BBC does not show lots of imported programmes such as Scrubs because it is supposed to make its own programmes. E4 would not show Have I Got News For You because most of its audience will be older than the E4 audience.
Examiner’s comments
- Covers the BBC 1 audience
- Covers the BBC as an institution
- Explains why Thursday night and explains why after 9pm, but not in much detail
- Covers E4 as an institution and how it targets its audience
Explains times, but not in much detail
- Explains how programmes fit their channels
This answer does what the mark scheme asks for, so it just needs more detail for a higher mark
4b) Show how these two programmes offer their audiences different pleasures. (15 Marks)
Have I Got News For You is very different to Scrubs as it is almost live comedy about recent events in the world, whereas Scrubs is a sitcom where the comedy is based on characters and everyday situations.
Have I Got News For You is ‘infotainment’ as it offers some education on the events of that week, whereas Scrubs episodes are simply for entertainment.
Have I Got News For You has regular stars – Paul Merton and Ian Hislop – that the audience can tune in to see sparing with each other every week. This is similar to the regular characters in Scrubs, such as JD and Turk, who are in some ways like a family that the audience can drop in on regularly. One big difference is that Have I Got News For You is presented by different people every week and has different guests, and the audience can tune in to see who is presenting this week and how well they will do. Scrubs, on the other hand, usually has more or less the same cast in every episode, but different storylines for the audience to follow.
Scrubs is a drama, so it has episodes with narratives that are resolved at the end of the episode.This gives the audience the pleasure of a story being told. Have I Got News For You follows a similar pattern every week, but there is little sense of narrative resolution – one team will win the competition, but this is really a throwaway ending. The quiz is an excuse for people to be funny.
Scrubs will have situations where we can sympathise with characters as well as laugh at them or with them. For example, when JD is unlucky in love. Have I Got News For You is more about people performing for TV as themselves, so we tend to judge them on how well they have performed instead of feeling for them.
Examiner’s comments
- Understands the differences between the programmes
- Shows understanding of how the programmes offer different pleasures, but where are examples?
- Develops this understanding further, but still no detailed examples from the programmes
- This answer does what the top level mark brand asks for, except for detailed and appropriate exemplification. The student needs to study some episodes in detail
- This students has done pretty well. They only had just under half an hour to write these answers. However, they must learn to give more examples from the programmes. They could have used examples of panelists in Have I Got News For You being funny, an example of a storyline in Scrubs that is resolved, and perhaps an example of an everyday situation that is explored in one episode of Scrubs.
4a) Pick two TV or radio comedies you have studied. Discuss why they were scheduled:
- on the channels that chose them
- on the days and times they were transmitted. (15)
My two comedies are Have I Got News For You and Scrubs.
Have I Got News For You is scheduled on BBC 1 at 9pm on Thursday nights and is repeated with extra bits on Saturdays on BBC2. It fits BBC 1 as it is a mainstream programme that will appeal to a wide audience because it is funny. It is also educational as it covers serious subjects like politics, so this makes it fit public service broadcasting. It is essential the BBC fits public service broadcasting because it is funded by the licence fee and so has to have some reason for charging everyone to watch it.
Thursday night is good for comedy as it is a wind-down time of the week, so BBC 1 always shows comedy at this time. The BBC runs its comedy zone on Thursday nights. After 9pm is good as it is after the watershed and therefore the programme can contain swearing and adult content. The programme that follows (Reggie Perrin) is a comedy as well, this is so it can inherit Have I Got News For You’s audience. The programme can also be watched on the BBC iPlayer.
Scrubs is shown on E4. It shows six episodes a day at 13:05, 13:35, 6:00, 6:30, 00:40, and 01:10 on every weekday, but not at weekends. Scrubs fits E4 because it is a channel aimed at young people – the same target audience as the programme. It is fits because E4 shows a lot of comedy shows, ‘cool’ shows from America. E4 can do this as it is a niche channel that is not covered by PSB regulations as it is not a terrestrial channel. This means that it can have stripped schedules and repeat programmes over and over again that are aimed at young people. This makes it easier for young people to know what is going to be on E4.
Scrubs is shown at the moment at lunchtimes, early evenings and late at night because these are repeated episodes and not considered important enough for prime time. It can also be watched on 4oD.
The BBC does not show lots of imported programmes such as Scrubs because it is supposed to make its own programmes. E4 would not show Have I Got News For You because most of its audience will be older than the E4 audience.
Examiner’s comments
- Covers the BBC 1 audience
- Covers the BBC as an institution
- Explains why Thursday night and explains why after 9pm, but not in much detail
- Covers E4 as an institution and how it targets its audience
Explains times, but not in much detail
- Explains how programmes fit their channels
This answer does what the mark scheme asks for, so it just needs more detail for a higher mark
4b) Show how these two programmes offer their audiences different pleasures. (15 Marks)
Have I Got News For You is very different to Scrubs as it is almost live comedy about recent events in the world, whereas Scrubs is a sitcom where the comedy is based on characters and everyday situations.
Have I Got News For You is ‘infotainment’ as it offers some education on the events of that week, whereas Scrubs episodes are simply for entertainment.
Have I Got News For You has regular stars – Paul Merton and Ian Hislop – that the audience can tune in to see sparing with each other every week. This is similar to the regular characters in Scrubs, such as JD and Turk, who are in some ways like a family that the audience can drop in on regularly. One big difference is that Have I Got News For You is presented by different people every week and has different guests, and the audience can tune in to see who is presenting this week and how well they will do. Scrubs, on the other hand, usually has more or less the same cast in every episode, but different storylines for the audience to follow.
Scrubs is a drama, so it has episodes with narratives that are resolved at the end of the episode.This gives the audience the pleasure of a story being told. Have I Got News For You follows a similar pattern every week, but there is little sense of narrative resolution – one team will win the competition, but this is really a throwaway ending. The quiz is an excuse for people to be funny.
Scrubs will have situations where we can sympathise with characters as well as laugh at them or with them. For example, when JD is unlucky in love. Have I Got News For You is more about people performing for TV as themselves, so we tend to judge them on how well they have performed instead of feeling for them.
Examiner’s comments
- Understands the differences between the programmes
- Shows understanding of how the programmes offer different pleasures, but where are examples?
- Develops this understanding further, but still no detailed examples from the programmes
- This answer does what the top level mark brand asks for, except for detailed and appropriate exemplification. The student needs to study some episodes in detail
- This students has done pretty well. They only had just under half an hour to write these answers. However, they must learn to give more examples from the programmes. They could have used examples of panelists in Have I Got News For You being funny, an example of a storyline in Scrubs that is resolved, and perhaps an example of an everyday situation that is explored in one episode of Scrubs.
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