Quality Television in the UK and the US - Essay Example

? QUALITY TELEVISION Quality Television The scholars who have written about quality of American television have ignored the value orquality debate, but instead focused on evaluating the quality of television programs. These entities have not been keen to distinguish the difference between quality television and good television. Varied scholars indicate that good television has similar characteristics with quality television. However, Sarah Cardwell, a senior academic at the University of Kent, has a different opinion on the quality of television. She states that the process of transforming the quality of television into an academic discourse has demanded a distance between critical analysis and emotions by the parties involved (Akass, 2007p. 4). The discussions on quality have been evident for a long time. For example, according to Robin Nelson, television quality was determined in UK and USA by basing on traditions or cultural values (Akass, 2007p. 4). It is also worth stating that there has been a shift in the television quality rating due to economical or social factors. According to Cardwell, the business strategies usually affect the programs cast in televisions. This is because most institutions and industries usually adopt institutional and cultural discourses when determining quality based on broadcasting mandates, policy-making decisions, and the production demands. Sarah Cardwell conducted critical judgment and evaluations to establish the differences since the variance between quality and good television had been neglected. She stated that the television studies lacked sufficient attention on the conceptual matters. Consequently, the difference between quality and good television can be established by looking at the generic classification of television programs. In 1995, Cardwell let her television students watch 1995 classic-novel where the students had different opinions about the movie. For example, one student said that the movie was of high quality but rather boring making it improper. From the findings, it was clear that the quality of television is determined by the way the television program has been filmed or acted. Concurrently, a good television program is rated based on the textual characteristics of the program (Akass, 2007p. 20). In summary, a good television is moving, riveting, provocative, rich, and should be frequently contemporary. It should not only be relevant but the viewers should also value it (Akass, 2007p. 21). However, the classifications of the quality of television are largely dependent on the national context. For instance, the contemporary quality of television in Britain is different from American television quality. According to the BBC and Public Space, television quality is a priority. In March 2010, the BBC’s executives published the proposals that were meant to increase efficiency and ensure quality by restricting new online activities (Potschka, 2012 p.25). The collaboration between the HBO and BBC enhanced their reputation of producing quality programs. This has been beneficial in helping HBO consolidate its market position. HBO has experienced several successes when producing programs such as The Sopranos, Sex and the City, and the Six Feet Under. However, it is having trouble maintaining its success due to the changing nature of the television industry. They have developed a creative approach that will enable them to improve the success of their television programs. The approach in the post network has been characterized by high-production values, artistic integrity and risk-taking process that are highly creative (Akass, 2007p. 62). The famous HBO program, The Sopranos has been analyzed based on the industrial factors. Since it is a gangster television program, it usually exists in the form of a pre-sold television program. It has prompted researchers and scholars to analyze it in terms of branding (Jaramillo, 2007 p. 594). For the quality brand of The Sopranos to be established, HBO has differentiated its merchandise from the broadcast that is the lowest denominator. This branding strategy by HBO has increased the competition between the broadcast television and the pay cable in popular discourse (Jaramillo, 2007 p.594). There exist ten characteristic features used to define the HBO television quality in the American quality television,. The first feature is the filmic that has been illustrated clearly in the HBO’s movie called The Pacific. The Pacific movie and the Band of Brothers have led to the continued financial gains of HBO (Sickels, 2011p. 148). The second feature is the use of themes or styles. HBO involves expressive use of several themes and styles as well as trying to focus on the present. This has been expressed by the use of television series for example in “The Board Walk Empire.” Complex narratives characterized by natural or serious setting are evident in HBO, for example, in the series called “Curb Your Enthusiasm.” In The Sopranos, internet chat and multiplatform has been used extensively to improve the television quality. The last major feature used in television quality is rewarding. An example where it has been extensively used is in the television series called “The Wire.” HBO television series have been recognizable internationally to produce good movies and television series. Several reasons that highlight the success of HBO can be analyzed by first looking at its history. There was a stiff competition between the Movie channel and the HBO on the purchase of the movie rights during the 80’s. This prompted the HBO’s leader, Michael Fuchs to adopt the approach of cable programming. HBO gained cash from the subscriptions because it had thirty million subscribers who were paying thirty million dollars per month. Chris Albrecht, who was appointed by Fuchs, handled the original programming (Edgerton, 2008 p. 32). Chris Albrecht was a comedian himself meaning that he attracted many comedy specials that made the HBO comedy shows better than those featured in the network quality. Additionally, HBO started a comedy channel that developed into the Comedy Central. This was a great move because the Comedy Central and Showtime provides women comedy, involves comedians of different color, and provides lesbian and gay comics (Edgerton, 2008:p161). Since quality is not usually dependent on money but relationships, HBO never spent a lot of money on their shows, as it was the case with the ABC on “Lost.” Additionally, HBO never advertised its shows but instead they hired high quality people to do the script writings that earn them proceeds. Cardwell indicates that quality television programs are classified based on several factors. These include structure, the characteristics of the textual content, tone and the theme. For instance, the quality television programs in America is characterized by high values in terms of production, involves recognized or esteemed actors and naturalistic styles in terms of performance. A significant proportion of the programs are innovative while some go through a series of editing. There is a high level of integrity in terms of style because it is intertwined with themes to ensure that the television quality is high. In terms of the subject, the televisions programs will tend to focus on serious themes, and avoid superficial life events. American quality televisions focus on the present by reflecting on the current society. Smaller instances and examples will then solidify these reflections as a way of appealing to the viewers. An example is made on “The West Wing” that illustrates high values in terms of production, carefully chosen characters and weighty themes. These features are important in helping the audience to classify it based on the originality of the screenwriter. They also encourage the audience to appreciate structure and the poetic language used in the television program Reference List Akass, K, J., & McCabe 2007, Quality TV: contemporary American television and beyond. London, I.B. Tauris. Edgerton, G. R., & Jones, J. P 2008, The essential HBO reader, Lexington, University Press of Kentucky. Accessed at http://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&scope=site&db=nlebk&db=nlabk&AN=209749 on 12th May 2013 Jaramillo, D.L 2007, The Family Racket: AOL Time Warner, HBO, The Sopranos, and the Construction of a Quality Brand, in Newcomb, H. Television: The Critical View, Oxford and New York: Oxford University Press (seventh edition). pp 579-594. Potschka, C 2012, towards a market in broadcasting communications policy in the UK and Germany. Houndmills, Basingstoke, Hampshire, Palgrave Macmillan. Sickels, R 2011, American film in the digital age, Santa Barbara, Calif, Praeger. Read More