Remits

Remits and Audience - TV Channels

Remit: For ITV, the remit is high quality programmes across a variety of genres such as drama, current affairs and entertainment. ITV1 offer all different types of shows that will cater for all the audience. It is a mainstream public service channel funded by advertising revenue. Examples of drama shows that are broadcast on ITV1 include Downton Abbey and Law & Order: UK.

Audience: ITV1 aims to attract the widest possible audience. Although the channel is primarily targeted at mass audiences, ITV1 also shows programmes aimed at particular sections of the audience, such as children and people watching TV during the day. In order to appeal to such a wide target audience, ITV1 has certain shows broadcast at different times. These times are split into daytime, primetime, weekend and nighttime programming.

Remit for ITV 1, BBC 3 and E4

Remit: The remit for this channel is to bring younger audiences to high quality programmes through a mixed-genre schedule of UK content featuring new UK talent. In addition, the channel should use the full range of digital platforms to deliver its content and build an interactive relationship with the audience. The programming of BBC Three consists of comedy, drama and spin off series. The main programmes that are broadcast on this channel include Doctor Who and EastEnders.

Audience: The channel’s target audience is 16-34 year olds. It appeals to the target audience as it is something new and age appropriate. On average, nine million people watch BBC Three every week, and the channel only broadcasts in the evening. The channel is on-air from 7pm to 4am each night.

Remit: The remit makes up a core part of Channel 4’s DNA.  It states that the channel should foster the new and experimental in television and it should also appeal to the tastes and interests of a culturally diverse society. In short, the channel offers innovation and experimentation for the audience in the shows they broadcast.

Some examples of programmes that are broadcast on this channel include The Big Bang Theory, Glue and Youngers. Channel Four produces some of the most provocative and thought provoking TV available via mainstream channels.

Audience: The channel is mainly aimed at people of 15-35 years of age. Therefore, the channel has to present a wide variety of programmes that satisfy the whole of the audience. Programmes aimed at a younger audience would be shown earlier, and shows aimed at an adult audience are shown after the 9PM mark.

Choice of TV channel

I have chosen to broadcast using BBC Three. The reason for this is that it already broadcasts drama programmes, which would give it an audience that would be interested in a new drama series. Another reason for my choice of channel is that the age of the target audience of the channel is suitable for the genre of horror that I've chosen.

Press Releases

Marcella (Crime)

This is an upcoming crime drama series that is set in contemporary London. The main character is a detective in her late 30's.

Features of the press release:

• There is heavy emphasis on the names of the actors taking part.
• Organised into several paragraphs with varied length
• Includes the date in which it will be filmed and where the filming is going to take place
• The simple and short headline describes the name of the series and lets the audience know which channel it's going to be broadcast on
• The name of the series' writer is shown and it features interviews from people to present information about the series
• However, the writers of the press release have also given it a formal mode of address.
• In addition, the press release also includes an interview:

This part of the press release focuses on the aspects of the main character and some of the other characters as well. Additionally, the description of the narrative as "unpredictable" keeps the reader interested.
http://www.itv.com/presscentre/press-releases/itv-commissions-drama-series-marcella 

Humans (Sci-fi)

This is a science fiction TV series which explores the emotional impact of the blurring of the lines between humans and machines.

Features of the press release:

• It shows the date when the series is going to be filmed. 
• There is a variety of sentence lengths and the press release is split into several paragraphs.
• The language that is used is both formal and understandable to appeal to a wide audience.
• Additionally, the press release features the names of the executive producers and other people involved in the production of the series. 
• The mode of address of this press release is formal and it grips the attention of the audience.

This is a description of the plot of the series. It explains where the series is set, and gives some information about the characters without giving away too much to the audience. It also involves an aspect which would cause conflict or confrontation in the series.

http://www.channel4.com/info/press/news/channel-4-and-xbox-entertainment-studios-partner-on-humans

American Horror Story: Hotel 

Features of this press release:

• It uses several questions at the end in order to get the audience talking about the series and thinking about what the plot will be. 
• The mode of address of this press release is quite direct and it keeps the audience interested. It engages with the audience.
• The press release ends with a short sentence that grips the audience's attention.
• It also features links for people to access that will give them additional information

http://www.ew.com/article/2015/08/26/american-horror-story-hotel-season-1-connection-murder-house

Structure and Style of a press release

Press releases share their structure with a standard newspaper article. Information is presented from the most important to the least.

http://writing.colostate.edu/guides/page.cfm?pageid=1503&guideid=75

What features do these press releases have in common?
All three of the press releases involve the names of the actors who are taking part, especially if they're a well-known person. In addition, they include details of when and where the series is going to be filmed and some ideas about the plot. Finally, the three press releases are organized into paragraphs of varied length and they feature language that is simple for the reader to understand.

What will you need to include to produce a convincing press release of your own?
I will need to include a paragraph structure and ensure that there are details in the press release about when and where the series is going to be produced. In addition, I will need to include ideas about the plot and the characters, but I need to make sure that I don't give too much away. I will also need to ensure that I engage the reader by adding interviews and also include a bit of information about the channel that it's going to be broadcast on.

How would you describe the mode of address of these press releases?

The mode of address of these press releases is very direct and it gets information across to the audience in a clear way.

Media theories

Male gaze theory

First of all, there is the male gaze theory. The male gaze theory, created by Laura Mulvey, states that the audience is put into the perspective of a heterosexual man. A scene may focus on specific appealing parts of a woman, basically giving the audience a man's perspective. In addition, the male gaze theory suggests that women are denied human identity and are instead intended to be almost objects to be admired for their physical appearance. Finally, the theory also states that the media is dominated by men.

As well as this, Mulvey has stated that the role of a woman in a narrative has only two functions:

• To provide a visual pleasure for the characters in the narrative.
• To provide visual pleasure for the audience of the media text.

Examples of media texts that use the male gaze theory are shown below.

Cultivation theory

Furthermore, another theory is the cultivation theory. The cultivation theory states that if something (e.g. A stereotype or an idea) is repeated over and over, eventually it will become normalised. For example, certain things have become normal in the media due to constant repetition, including sexualisation of women and negative stereotypes of gypsies. Below is a video to explain this further.

Hypodermic needle theory

Another theory to be noted is the hypodermic needle theory, although it may also be named as the Magic Bullet Theory. This theory implies that the media has a direct, immediate and powerful effect on its audiences. The word "needle" implies that the media "shoots" or "injects" you with appropriate messages designed to trigger a desired response. Both images that are used to express this theory (A bullet and a needle) suggest a powerful and direct flow of information from the media to its audience.

Uses and Gratifications theory (UGT)

The UGT states why people use the media. In 1974, Blumler and Katz came up with 4 uses that people have for the media. These include:

Entertainment and escapism e.g. YouTube, radio and Netflix

Surveillance

Personal identity

Social interaction e.g. Facebook, Twitter

Media Studies - Audience and theory

Demographics and psychographics

Demographic audience categorisation (Demographics): This is where an audience is grouped and classified based on qualities such as age, gender, race, occupation and income. In basic terms, demographics describes who someone is and what kind of life they lead. For example, an advert advertising a car may be targeted at people who are middle aged, male and have a high income. Demographics may also be referred to as lifestyle or lifestage factors.

Psychographic audience categorisation (Psychographics): Psychographics are used in order to describe the attitudes and values of a target audience. The Young and Rubicam's 4-C model groups everyone into seven categories based on these attitudes and values. These are:

The Explorer: These people are driven by the need for challenges and new experiences. They respond to brands that offer new sensations and instant effects. They value new ideas, new experiences and their core need in life is discovery.

The Aspirer: These kinds of people are materialistic that are driven by others perceptions of them rather than their own values. They value image, appearance and fashion. Their core need in life is status.

The mainstreamer: These are people who live in the world of the domestic and the everyday. They are the mainstream of society and they respond to family brands and value for money. Also, they are interested in things that they can trust and value. Their core need in life is security.

The Succeeder: Succeeders have a strong goal and they know where they want to be. They possess self-confidence and seek the best things because they feel like that is what they deserve. Their core need in life is control.

The Reformer: Reformers are socially aware and pride themselves on tolerance. They are often perceived as being intellectual and being the leading edge of society. They believe that they're well informed. Their core need in life is enlightenment.

The Struggler: Strugglers live for today and make few plans for tomorrow. Some people may perceive strugglers as victims, wasters and losers with little aims and few resources. They may be heavy consumers of alcohol and junk food and may also be unemployed. Their core need in life is escape.

The Resigned: These are predominantly older people with constant and unchanging values that have built up over time. They like nostalgia, tradition and brands that they can rely on. Their core need in life is simply to survive.