Case Study
Broadcast
TV Dramas
Being Human is a drama about a ghost, werewolf and Vampire living together and going through the struggle of trying to live normally like human beings. It s a drama/Supernatural, horror/comedy shown at 9pm every sunday on BBC three.
BBC three is a public service channel aimed at people aged from 16 to 34, where their job is to inform and entertain as they get their money from the license fee, Being Human is shown for entertainment.
Print
On the cover of Radio Times the cast are seen in a more mature and professional light as it features an image of them in role, this intrigues the potential new viewers of the drama.
This interview has a more informal tone to it; it is set out as a conversation, where they are referred to by their first names and as well as talking about the new series of Being Human they talk about their favourite act in Factor. This makes the cast seem like up-to-date, fun and young individuals. A provocative image of the cast is featured in this article, which shows they are fun and sexy individuals as well as professional and successful actors. Gay Times is aimed at a more youth based audience, similar ages to the Being Human cast.
Broadcast
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Spin off programme- Becoming Human – widens their audience
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A documentary about the series with interviews with the director and the cast – Being Human Unearthed.
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Television appearances e.g. on Alan Carrs Chatty Man, BBC news, BAFTA TV Awards
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Advertised on the Radio
Leonora Crichlow was dressed formally when appearing on BBC News as she is probably not being watched by the target audience of Being Human; the target audience of BBC News would be a much more mature audience than the audience for Being Human. As well as Promoting Being Human Lenora Crichlow’s new programme is mentioned, this could help combined audiences and give both shows a wider audience.
[5:50] Whereas, on Alan Carr: Chatty Man Lenora Crichlow is more informal in this interview; She is dressed more casually, she speaks in a less serious tone by delivering a few jokes. This is because the Being Human cast are more likely to be viewed by their target audience, which are young people of the age 16-25.
Intertextuality
In Eastenders and intertextual reference to Corronation Street was made to mark the show’s 50th anniversary.
This happens where Dot is asked by Kat whether she is going to rehersals and she replies “Oh no, not tonight. Tonight I’m going to open a bag of marshmallows, share them with Jim and watch Corrie! I love it. It’s my favourite. Never miss it.”
This was seen as quite a big thing because Eastenders and Coronation Streets are rival programmes and this also may possibly help Coronation Street get a bigger audience for their anniversary episode.
E-Media
The Being Human Website on BBC
- People are able to keep an update on what is going on in the programme, they are able to watch ‘behind-the-scenes’ videos to get an insight on how the programme is put together.
- The drama also has a spin-off show online called ‘Becoming Human’, it is aimed at a younger audience. The audience are able to ‘follow the mystery’ by keeping up-to-date with the blog entries posted by the characters and they can comment and discuss the show with other fans.
- Prequel videos on the characters more of an insight of the character’s history in the drama.
- The blog helps the fans get to know the people behind the camera such as the creator of the drama.
- Web 2.0 – as well as receiving the information you can also participate and include their own information. E.g. Wikipedia. People are also able to comment on blog posts and contribute ideas
- Being human website has links to other social networking sites, the character’s twitter, Facebook profiles and the programme’s youtube profile, so that the fans can interact with the actors/actresses.
- The website also has links to the Wikipedia page, Twitpic and a fan site.
News Values - Eastenders Baby Plot.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-12
Negativity – about baby deaths and mothers grieving and swapping dead child for a live one.
Unexpectedness – it is a very dark storyline, not many people expected the story to go that far
Continuity - viewers will want to see the storyline develop and see if it ends early as the original plan was to let it go on for 10 years.
Reference to Elite people -the writers and actors/actresses
Threshold – it is a big story as a lot of people are able to relate to it, experiencing baby deaths
Doctor Who
News Values
To make sure the most interesting stories are featured in the news, certain news values are taken into consideration;
It could be argued that it is quite unexpected to find that there are negative articles about Doctor Who, this interests the reader as Doctor Who is known and promoted as one of the best and longest running science fiction T.V. dramas. So it would be interesting for the readers to see what is so bad about Doctor who.
As these articles discuss how Doctor Who may not be suitable for family viewing anymore, readers who are parents can relate to it as they may find it Doctor Who may be too racy and scary for their children to watch.
The article makes reference to elite people; the writer of Doctor Who, Stephen Moffat/Toby Whithouse and the cast, Matt Smith and Karen Gillan.
Censorship
As the BBC is a public service channel, they get their money from the T.V license fee, they have to be careful of what they show on TV at certain times. The Programmes shown on any channel on the BBC must suitable and satisfy the audience. Doctor who is shown at 6 pm on a Saturday evening, this at the pre-watershed time, which means that at this time swearing or scenes of a sexual nature is not allowed to be shown as children are still up at this time. Doctor Who has caused controversy and had complaints saying it is too scary and racy for family television. There have been complaints of the Doctor Who monsters getting to scary and the storyline getting to dark for young viewers. Adult viewers have been complaining about Doctor Who getting to racy for family viewing, the Doctor’s companion, Amy Pond, works as a kiss-o-gram and occasionally see her dressed as whats been described as a ’mini-skirted’ nun, policewoman and nurse. There was also a scene where the Doctor’s companion overtly asked him for sex and joked about the last time he did it. It is argued that Amy’s behaviour makes her a bad role model for young girls who watch Doctor Who. There have been questions on whether Doctor Who is aimed at children or for family viewing or not.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/writersroom/insight/tv_drama.shtml
http://www.bbc.co.uk/writersroom/insight/toby_whithouse_2.shtml
http://www.bbc.co.uk/writersroom/insight/russell_t_davies_4.shtml
How Being Human was created.
“Touchpaper, which is an independent TV company, approached me and said “We want to do a flat share drama about a group of friends from university who buy a house together and the stresses and strains it puts on their relationship.” And I thought that’s probably the dullest idea for a story I’ve ever heard. I was actually on the verge of turning it down. And then I remember walking home one night, and the ideas for three characters just fell into place, fully formed.”
