Atelevision show,TV program(British English:programme), or simply aTV show,is the general reference to any content produced for viewing on atelevision setthat is traditionally broadcast via over-the-air,satellite,orcable.This generally excludesbreaking newsoradvertisementsthat are aired between shows or between segments of a show. A regularly recurring show is called atelevision series,and an individual broadcast of such a series is called anepisode.Epidodes are usually broadcast in annual sets, which are calledseasonsin North America andseriesin other regions. A one-off television show may be called atelevision special,while a short series of episodes is aminiseries.Atelevision film,ortelefilm,is afeature filmcreated for broadcasting on television.
Television shows are most oftenscheduled for broadcastwell ahead of time and appear onelectronic guidesor otherTV listings,though the rise ofstreaming serviceshas made television schedules less relevant than in earlier decades. Some programming may beaired live—that is, events are broadcast at the time they happen rather than at a later time or date—but the vast majority or programming is produced ahead of time. Originally, viewers had no practical way to record a show for later viewing; this changed with the advent ofhome video,first in the form of videotape recorded onVCRsand later in the form ofdigital video recorders.Cable television providers began offering certain programming "pay-per-view" orvideo on demandon-demand, with viewers paying a one-time fee to watch a program at a time of their own choosing. Modernstreaming televisionallows viewers to watch programming at any time with a subscription to the service.
History
The first television shows were experimental, sporadic broadcasts viewable only within a very short range from thebroadcast towerstarting in the 1930s. Televised events such as the1936 Summer Olympicsin Germany, the 1937coronation of King George VIin the United Kingdom, andDavid Sarnoff'sfamous introduction at the1939 New York World's Fairin the United States spurred growth in the medium, butWorld War IIput a halt to development until after the war. The1947 World Seriesinspired many Americans to buy their first television set, and then in 1948, the popular radio showTexaco Star Theatermade the move and became the first weekly televisedvariety show,earning hostMilton Berlethe name "Mr. Television", and demonstrating that the medium was a stable, modern form of entertainment that could attractadvertisers.The first nationallive televisionbroadcast in the US took place on September 4, 1951, when PresidentHarry Truman's speech at theJapanese Peace Treaty ConferenceinSan Franciscowas transmitted overAT&T's transcontinentalcableandmicrowave radio relaysystem to broadcast stations in local markets.[1][2][3]
The first nationalcolorbroadcast (the 1954Tournament of Roses Parade) in the US occurred on January 1, 1954. During the following ten years, most network broadcasts, and nearly all local programming, continued to be in black-and-white. The color transition was announced for the fall of 1965, during which over half of all network prime-time programming would be broadcast in color. The first all-color prime-time season came just one year later. In 1972, the last holdout among daytime network shows converted to color, resulting in the first completely all-color network season.
Formats and genres
Television shows are more varied than most other forms of media due to the wide variety of formats and genres that can be presented. A show may befictional(as incomediesanddramas), ornon-fictional(as indocumentary,news,andreality television). It may be topical (as in the case of alocalnewscastand somemade-for-televisionfilms), or historical (as in the case of many documentaries and fictional series). They could be primarilyinstructional,educational,or entertaining, as is the case insituation comedyandgame shows.[citation needed]
A drama program usually features a set of actors playing characters in a historical or contemporary setting. The program follows their lives and adventures. Before the 1980s, shows (except forsoap opera-typeserials) typically remained static withoutstory arcs,and the main characters and premise changed little.[citation needed]If some change happened to the characters' lives during theepisode,it was usually undone by the end. Due to this, the episodes could be broadcast in any order.[citation needed]Since the 1980s, many series feature progressive change in the plot, the characters, or both. For instance,Hill Street BluesandSt. Elsewherewere two of the first US prime time drama television series to have this kind of dramatic structure,[4][better source needed]while the later seriesBabylon 5further exemplifies such structure in that it had a predetermined story running over its intended five-season run.[citation needed]
In 2012, it was reported that television was growing into a larger component of major media companies' revenues than film.[5]Some also noted the increase in quality of some television programs. In 2012, Academy Award-winning film directorSteven Soderbergh,commenting on ambiguity and complexity of character and narrative, stated: "I think those qualities are now being seen on television, and that people who want to see stories that have those kinds of qualities are watching television."[6]
Production
Development
United States
When a person or company decides to create new content for television broadcast, they develop the show's elements, consisting of theconcept,thecharacters,thecrew,and the cast. Then they often "pitch" it to the variousnetworksin an attempt to find one interested enough to order aprototypefor the first episode of the series, known as apilot.[7]Eric Coleman,an animation executive atDisney,told an interviewer, "One misconception is that it's very difficult to get in and pitch your show, when the truth is that development executives at networks want very much to hear ideas. They want very much to get the word out on what types of shows they're looking for."[8]
To create the pilot, the structure and team of the whole series must be put together. If audiences respond well to the pilot, the network will pick up the show to air it the next season.[citation needed]Sometimes they save it for mid-season or request rewrites and additional review.[citation needed]Other times, theypassentirely, forcing the show's creator to "shop it around" to other networks. Many shows never make it past the pilot stage.[9]
United Kingdom
The method of "team writing" is employed on some longer dramatic series (usually running up to a maximum of around 13 episodes). The idea for such a program may be generated "in-house" by one of the networks; it could originate from an independent production company (sometimes a product of both). For instance, theBBC's long-running soap operaEastEndersis wholly a BBC production, whereas its popular dramaLife on Marswas developed byKudosin association with the broadcaster.
There are still a significant number of programs (usuallysitcoms) that are built by just one or two writers and a small, close-knit production team. These are "pitched" in the traditional way, but since the creators handle all the writing requirements, there is a run of six or seven episodes per series once approval has been given. Many of the most popular British comedies have been made this way, includingMonty Python's Flying Circus(albeit with an exclusive team of six writer-performers),Fawlty Towers,BlackadderandThe Office.
Other nations
This sectionneeds expansionwith: coverage of other countries. You can help bymaking an edit requestadding to it.(February 2017) |
Theproduction companyis often separate from the broadcaster. Theexecutive producer,often the show's creator, is in charge of running the show. They pick thecrewand help cast the actors, approve and sometimes write series plots—some even write or direct major episodes—while various other producers help to ensure that the show runs smoothly. Very occasionally, the executive producer will cast themselves in the show. As withfilmmakingor otherelectronic mediaproduction, producing of an individual episode can be divided into three parts:pre-production,principal photography,andpost-production.
Pre-production
Pre-production begins when a script is approved. Adirectoris chosen to plan the episode's final look. Pre-production tasks include storyboarding; construction of sets, props, and costumes; casting guest stars; budgeting; acquiring resources like lighting, special effects, stunts, etc. Once the show is planned, it must then be scheduled: scenes are often filmed out of sequence, and guest actors or even regulars may only be available at certain times. Sometimes the principal photography of different episodes must be done at the same time, complicating the schedule (a guest star might shoot scenes from two episodes on the same afternoon). Complex scenes are translated from storyboard toanimaticsto further clarify the action. Scripts are adjusted to meet altering requirements.
Some shows have a small stable of directors, but also usually rely on outside directors. Given the time constraints of broadcasting, a single show might have two or three episodes in pre-production, one or two episodes in principal photography, and a few more in various stages of post-production. The task of directing is complex enough that a single director can usually not work on more than one episode or show at a time, hence the need for multiple directors.
Principal photography
Principal photography is the actual filming of the episode. Director, actors, and crew gather at atelevision studioor on location for filming orvideoinga scene. A scene is further divided into shots, which should be planned during pre-production. Depending on scheduling, a scene may be shot in non-sequential order of the story. Conversations may be filmed twice from differentcamera angles,often using stand-ins, so one actor might perform all their lines in one set of shots, and then the other side of the conversation is filmed from the opposite perspective. To complete a production on time, a second unit may be filming a different scene on another set or location at the same time, using a different set of actors, an assistant director, and a second unit crew. Adirector of photographysupervises the lighting of each shot to ensure consistency.
Live events are usually covered by Outside Broadcast crews using mobile television studios, known as scanners or OB trucks. Although varying greatly depending on the era and subject covered, these trucks were normally crewed by up to 15 skilled operators and production personnel. In the UK for most of the 20th century, the BBC was the preeminent provider of outside broadcast coverage. BBC crews worked on almost every major event, including Royal weddings and funerals, major political and sporting events, and even drama programs.[10]
Post-production
Once principal photography is complete, producers coordinate tasks to begin thevideo editing.Visual anddigital video effectsare added to the film; this is often outsourced to companies specializing in these areas. Often music is performed with the conductor using the film as a time reference (other musical elements may be previously recorded). Aneditorcuts the various pieces of film together, adds themusical scoreand effects, determines scene transitions, and assembles the completed show.
Budgets and revenues
Most television networks throughout the world are 'commercial', dependent on selling advertising time or acquiringsponsors.[citation needed]Broadcasting executives' main concern over their programming isaudiencesize.[citation needed]In the past, the number of 'free to air' stations was restricted by the availability ofchannelfrequencies, butcable TV(outside the United States,satellite television) technology has allowed an expansion in the number of channels available to viewers (sometimes at premium rates) in a much more competitive environment.[citation needed]
In the United States, the average broadcast network drama costs $3million an episode to produce, while cable dramas cost $2million on average.[11]Thepilotepisode may be more expensive than a regular episode.[citation needed]In 2004,Lost's two-hour pilot cost $10 to $14million, in 2008,Fringe's two-hour pilot cost $10million, and in 2010,Boardwalk Empirewas $18million for the first episode. In 2011,Game of Throneswas $5 to $10million,Pan Amcost an estimated $10million, whileTerra Nova's two-hour pilot was between $10 and $20million.[12][13]
Many scriptednetwork televisionshows in the United States are financed through deficit financing: a studio finances the production cost of a show and a network pays a license fee to the studio for the right to air the show. This license fee does not cover the show's production costs, leading to the deficit. Although the studio does not make its money back in the original airing of the show, it retains ownership of the show. This allows the studio to make its money back and earn a profit throughsyndicationand sales ofDVDsandBlu-rays.This system places most of the financial risk on the studios; however, a hit show in thesyndicationand home video markets can more than make up for the misses. Although deficit financing places minimal financial risk on the networks, they lose out on the future profits of big hits since they are only licensing the shows.[14]
Costs are recouped mainly by advertising revenues for broadcast networks and some cable channels, while other cable channels depend on subscriptions. In general, advertisers, and consequently networks that depend on advertising, are more interested in the number of viewers within the 18–49 age range than in the total number of viewers.[15][16]Advertisers are willing to pay more to advertise on shows successful with young adults because they watch less television and are harder to reach.[17]According toAdvertising Age,during the 2007–08 season,Grey's Anatomywas able to charge $419,000 per commercial, compared to only $248,000 for a commercial duringCSI,despite CSI having almost five million more viewers on average.[18]Due to its strength with younger viewers,Friendswas able to charge almost three times as much for a commercial asMurder, She Wrote,even though the two series had similar total viewer numbers at that time.[15]GleeandThe Officedrew fewer total viewers thanNCISduring the 2009–10 season, but earned an average of $272,694 and $213,617 respectively, compared to $150,708 for NCIS.[19]
Distribution
After production, the show is handed over to thetelevision network,which sends it out to itsaffiliatestations,which broadcast it in the specifiedbroadcast programmingtime slot. If theNielsen ratingsare good, the show is kept alive as long as possible. If not, the show is usuallycanceled.The show's creators are then left to shop around for remaining episodes, and the possibility of future episodes, on other networks. On especially successful series, the producers sometimes call a halt to a series on their own likeSeinfeld,The Cosby Show,Corner Gas,andM*A*S*Hand end it with a concluding episode, which sometimes is a bigseries finale.
On rare occasions, a series that has not attracted particularly high ratings and has been canceled can be given a reprieve ifhome videoviewership has been particularly strong. This has happened in the cases ofFamily Guyin the US andPeep Showin the UK.
In the United States, if the show is popular or lucrative, and a minimum number of episodes (usually 100) have been made, it can go intobroadcast syndication,where rights to broadcast the program are then resold for cash or put into a barter exchange (offered to an outlet for free in exchange for airing additional commercials elsewhere in the station's broadcast day).
Seasons/series/strand
This sectionneeds expansionwith: coverage of other countries. You can help bymaking an edit requestadding to it.(February 2017) |
The terminology used to define a set ofepisodesproduced by a television series varies from country to country.
North American usage
In North American television, a series is a connected set of television program episodes that run under the same title, possibly spanning many seasons. During the 1950s, it was common for television seasons to consist of more than 30 episodes—however, the average length has been declining since.[20]
Until the 1980s, most new programs for the USbroadcast networksdebuted in the "fall season", which ran from September through March and nominally contained 24 to 26 episodes. These episodes were rebroadcast during the spring (or summer) season, from April through August. Because ofcable televisionand the Nielsensweeps,the "fall" season now normally extends to May. Thus, a "full season" on a broadcast network now usually runs from September through May for at least 22 episodes.[21]
A full season is sometimes split into two separate units with a hiatus around the end of the calendar year, such as the first season ofJerichoon CBS. When this split occurs, the last half of the episodes are sometimes referred to with the letter B as in "The last nine episodes (ofThe Sopranos) will be part of what is being called either 'Season 6, Part 2' or 'Season 6B'",[22]or "Futuramais splitting its seasons similar to howSouth Parkdoes, doing half a season at a time, so this is season 6B for them. "[23]Since the 1990s, these shorter seasons also have been referred to as "split" or "half" seasons, which is done to increase profits, as seen with shows such asThe Witcher.[24]
Since at least the 2000s, new broadcast television series are often ordered (funded) for just the first 10 to 13 episodes, to gauge audience interest. If a series is popular, the network places a "back nine order" and the season is completed to the regular 20 to 26 episodes. An established series that is already popular, however, will typically receive an immediate full-season order at the outset of the season. Amidseason replacementis a less-expensive short-run show of generally 10 to 13 episodes designed to take the place of an original series that failed to garner an audience and has not been picked up. A "series finale" is the last show of the series before the show is no longer produced. (In the UK, it means the end of a season, what is known in the United States as a "seasonfinale ".) Streaming services time finales to the next quarter to induce consumers to renew at least one more quarter.[25]
A standard television season in the United States runs predominantly duringautumn.[26]During the summer months of June through roughly mid-September, network schedules typically feature reruns of their flagship programs, first-run series with lower rating expectations, and other specials. First-run scripted series are typically shorter and of a lower profile than those aired during the main season and can also includelimited seriesevents.Realityandgame showshave also been fixtures of the schedule.[26]
In Canada, the commercial networks air most US programming in tandem with the US television season, but their original Canadian shows follow a model closer to British than US television production. Due to the smaller production budgets available in Canada, a Canadian show's season normally runs to a maximum of 13 episodes rather than 20 or more, although an exceptionally popular series such asCorner GasorMurdoch Mysteriesmight receive 20-episode orders in later seasons. Canadian shows do not normally receive "back nine" extensions within the same season, however; even a popular series simply ends for the year when the original production order has finished airing, and an expanded order of more than 13 episodes is applied to the next season's renewal order rather than an extension of the current season. Only the publicCBC Televisionnormally schedules Canadian-produced programming throughout the year; the commercial networks typically now avoid scheduling Canadian productions to air in the fall, as such shows commonly get lost amid the publicity onslaught of the US fall season. Instead, Canadian-produced shows on the commercial networks typically air either in the winter as mid-season replacements for canceled US shows or in the summer (which may also improve their chances of being picked up by a US network for a summer run).[27]
Miniseries, limited series, and event series
While network orders for 13- or 22-episode seasons are still pervasive in the television industry, several shows have deviated from this traditional trend. Written to be closed-ended and of shorter length than other shows, they are marketed with a variety of terms.
- Miniseries:A very short, closed-ended series, typically six or more hours in two or more parts (nights), similar to an extendedtelevision movie.Many early miniseries were adaptations of popular novels of the day, such asThe National Dream(1974),Roots(1977), andNorth and South(1985). In recent years, as described by several television executives interviewed byThe Hollywood Reporter,the termminiserieshas grown to have negativeconnotationswithin the industry, having become associated withmelodrama-heavy works that were commonly produced under the format, whilelimited seriesorevent seriesreceive higher respect.[28]
- Limited series:Distinct from miniseries in that the production is seen to have potential to be renewed, but without the requirement of it having as many episodes as a typical order per season.Under the Dome,Killer Women,andLutherwere marketed as limited series. Individual season-length stories ofanthology seriessuch asAmerican Horror Story,Fargo,andTrue Detectiveare also described as "limited series". ThePrimetime Emmyshave had to make numerous changes to theirminiseries/limited series categoryto accommodateanthologyand other limited series.[29]
- Event series: Largely considered a marketing term, falling under the general category ofevent television.The term can be applied to almost any new, short-run series, such as24: Live Another Day.It has also been used to describegame showslikeThe Million Second Quizwhich aired for just two weeks.[28]
UK, Ireland and Australia usage
This sectionneeds additional citations forverification.(August 2023) |
In the United Kingdom and other countries, these sets of episodes are referred to as a "series". In Australia, the broadcasting may be different from North American usage. The termsseriesandseasonare both used and are the same. For example,Battlestar Galacticahas an original series as well as a remake, both are considered a different series, each with their own number of individual seasons.
Australian television does not follow "seasons" in the way that US television does; for example, there is no "fallseason "or" fall schedule ". For many years, popular night-time dramas in Australia would run for much of the year, and would only go into recess during the summer period (December to February, as Australia is in the Southern Hemisphere), when ratings are not taken. Therefore, popular dramas would usually run from February through November each year. This schedule was used in the 1970s for popular dramas, includingNumber 96.Many drama series, such asMcLeod's Daughters,have received between 22 and 32 episodes per season.
Typically,soap operas,which have always run in season format in Australia, such asHome and Away,would usually begin a new season in late January, while the season finale would air in late November, as the show is off air for two months, or sometimes longer, depending on the schedule. In recent years,[when?]a new season would begin in early February, and the season finale would broadcast in early December. SinceHome and Away's inception, it normally receives 230 episodes per season. Some seasons have seen between 205 and 235 episodes commissioned. During theOlympics,Home and Awaywould often go on hiatus, which was referred to as an "Olympic cliffhanger". Therefore, the number of episodes would decrease. Australiansituation comedyseries' seasons are approximately 13 episodes long and premiere any time between February and November.
British shows have tended toward shorter series in recent years. For example, thefirst seriesof long-runningscience fictionshowDoctor Whoin 1963 featured forty-two 25‑minute episodes, and continued with a similar number each year until it was reduced to twenty-fivefor 1970to accommodate changes in production and significantly reducing the actors' workload) and continued to 1984.For 1985fewer but longer episodes were shown, but even after a return to shorter episodes in 1986, lack of support within the BBC meant fewer episodes were commissioned leading to only fourteen 25‑minute episodes up tothose in 1989after which it was cancelled. The revival ofDoctor Whofrom 2005 has comprised thirteen 45‑minute installments.
There are some series in the UK that have a larger number of episodes, for exampleWaterloo Roadstarted with 8 to 12 episodes, but from series three onward it increased to twenty episodes and series seven will contain 30 episodes. Recently, US non-cable networks have also begun to experiment with shorter series for some programs, particularly reality shows, such asSurvivor.They often air two series per year, resulting in roughly the same number of episodes per year as a drama.
This is a reduction from the 1950s, in which many US shows (e.g.Gunsmoke) had between 29 and 39 episodes per season. Actual storytelling time within a commercial television hour has also gradually reduced over the years, from 50 minutes out of every 60 to the current 44 (and even less on some networks), beginning in the early 21st century.
The usage of "season" and "series" differ for DVD and Blu-ray releases in both Australia and the UK. In Australia, many locally produced shows are termed differently on home video releases. For example, a set of the television drama seriesPacked to the RaftersorWentworthis referred to as "season" ( "The Complete First Season", etc.), whereas drama series such asTangleare known as a "series" ( "Series 1", etc.). British-produced shows such asMrs. Brown's Boysare referred to as "season" in Australia for the DVD and Blu-ray releases.
In the UK and Ireland, most programs are referred to as 'series' while 'season' is starting to be used for some US and international releases.
Egypt
The 1980s and 1990s was the golden age of television miniseries attracting millions of Egyptians. For example,The Family of Mr Shalashminiseries, starringSalah ZulfikarandLaila Taher,was the highest rated at the time.[30]
Running time
This sectionneeds additional citations forverification.(September 2018) |
In the United States, dramas produced for hour-long time slots typically are 37–42 minutes in length (excluding advertisements), whilesitcomsproduced for 30-minute time slots typically are 18–21 minutes long. There are exceptions: subscription-based TV channels, such asHBO,Starz, Cinemax, and Showtime, have episodes that are 45–48 minutes long, similar to the UK. Audience opinions of length have varied due to factors such ascontent overload.[31]
In Britain, dramas typically run from 46–48 minutes on commercial channels, and 57–59 minutes on theBBC.Half-hour programs are around 22 minutes on commercial channels and around 28 minutes on the BBC. The longer duration on the BBC is due to the lack of advertising breaks.
In France, most television shows (whether dramas, game shows or documentaries) have a duration of 52 minutes. This is the same on nearly all French networks (TF1, France 2, France 5, M6, Canal+, etc.).[32]
See also
References
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- ^Schneider, Michael (July 8, 2015)."Networks Put in Short Orders for Next Season".TV Guide.RetrievedAugust 14,2012.
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- ^abAlexander, Brian."Where are my TV shows? Frustrated viewers' guide to strike-hit, reality-filled fall season".USA TODAY.RetrievedJanuary 22,2024.
- ^"For Canadian TV, summer is the new growing season".The Globe and Mail,June 8, 2011.
- ^abRose, Lacey; Goldberg, Lesley (February 28, 2014)."Heroes,24:What's the Difference Between a 'Miniseries,' 'Limited' or 'Event' Series? ".The Hollywood Reporter.RetrievedNovember 30,2017.
- ^Turitz, Neil (June 11, 2015)."From 'American Crime' to 'Wayward Pines,' Limited Series Invade Network TV".Variety.RetrievedNovember 30,2017.
- ^Kijamii."15 Timeless Egyptian Series You Should Watch Over And Over Again".NileFM.RetrievedJanuary 22,2022.
- ^Nguyen, Hanh (April 23, 2019)."During Peak TV, Are Shorter Episode Runtimes Better? – IndieWire Critics Survey".IndieWire.RetrievedJanuary 22,2024.
- ^Morin, Fabien (March 9, 2015)."Pourquoi les programmes durent-ils 52 minutes à la télévision?".TV Magazine(in French).RetrievedJuly 24,2017.