This document provides guidance and instructions for a media studies exam section on TV comedy. It outlines that Section B is worth 30 marks and will have two questions: 4(a) discusses the scheduling of one or two comedy programs on channels and 4(b) how the programs offer different pleasures to audiences. Students should be prepared to contrast two texts or discuss one text in detail using media key concepts. They should choose comedy programs from contrasting broadcasters like BBC1 and E4 to discuss how the programs link to the channel branding and audiences. The homework assigns watching two comedy programs, one from a mainstream channel and one from a younger channel, to use as case studies in the exam.

1. In your books…
Mind map or list as many programmes that you
can think of that are typical to:
BBC 1 Channel 4

3. SECTION B – TV comedy
Section B will test your understanding
of the following media key concepts:
• institutions
• audiences

4. SECTION B – TV comedy
This section is worth 30 marks out of 80. You
will have two questions:
4(a) Discuss in detail how and why [one/two]
comedy programme(s) was scheduled on one
or more channels. (15 marks)
4(b) Show how [one/two] comedy
programmes offer their audiences different
pleasures. (15 marks)

5. In the exam…
You should be prepared to:
• contrast two texts or discuss one text in more
detail using Media Key Concepts
• explain why channels have chosen these texts to
fit their institutional contexts
• explain why channels have scheduled these texts
on certain times and days
• discuss how these texts address their audiences,
the nature of these audiences and the
• pleasures that are offered by these texts.

6. What do these have in common?

7. 1962 BBC One Ident

8. How have they changed?
Why are they important?

9. This time last year… shocking news!

10. But…

11. BBC Christmas Idents

12. Channel 4

13. Channel 4

14. Re-branding?

16. Recap starter…
Look back at your map or list…
• How do the programs link to the branding of the
channel?
• Now identify Comedy programs for both
channels… what does this tell us about the
audience?
BBC 1 Channel 4

18. What do
we
know
about
BBC3
and E4?

19. What is significant about BBC3?

20. Contrast
• The question will require you to contrast the types
of programmes, their broadcasters and audiences.
• So you must have knowledge of two types of at
least 2 broadcasters (TV institutions).
• Therefore the comedies you will study must come
from two differently funded channels – one from a
publicly funded & regulated channel e.g. BBC1 and
one more diverse and commercially funded e.g. E4,
BBC3 or Comedy Central.

21. Task
• A broadcasting station has asked you to create
designs for new idents for both their
mainstream channel and it’s ‘younger’
broadcast station.
• They want you to create idents – but not to
stray too far from their institutional image.
• You can choose which broadcaster. Either:
– BBC1 and BBC3
– Channel 4 and E4

22. Homework – Due Friday 19th Jan
Watch two TV comedy programmes. One must be
from one of the mainstream channels. The other
must be from the ‘younger’ channel of the ‘other’
broadcaster.
e.g.:
• BBC1 and E4; or
• Channel 4 and BBC3
You MUST make a note of which channel they are
on, the date (day) and time they are shown.
You also need to analyse 3 comedy scenes from
each show to identify why it was funny.
These will be the case studies you use in the exam