This document analyzes the market for soap operas in the UK television industry. It discusses that soap operas are typically produced by the television channels that broadcast them to allow for vertical integration. The two main media companies involved are the BBC and ITV. Several popular soaps are then analyzed in more detail, including Coronation Street, EastEnders, Emmerdale, Hollyoaks, and Doctors. Each summary provides the channel it airs on, the production company, target audience, typical weekly viewers, and awards won.

1. Market Analysis

2. What is the Market?
The market is the television industry, soap operas in particular. This industry focuses to
attract a mass audience.
Who produces the soap operas?
It is a common occurrence that soap operas are produced by the companies that own the
channel that they are broadcasted on. This is because these companies that produce the
soap operas are parts of media conglomerates and so therefore can vertical integration
to both produce and broadcast their programme.
The main media conglomerates that are involved in both producing and broadcasting
soap operas are the BBC and ITV. These are two major media conglomerates known to
produce a number of media products, such as single-series television programmes and
films.

3. Coronation Street
 ‘Corrie’ is broadcasted on ITV, previously known as ITV1
 It is produced by Granada Television, which is also known
as ITV Granada, a subsidiary studio of ITV.
 Coronation Street aim to target a mass audience of 13-60
year olds, both male and female, that fit into the socio-
economic group E, D, C2, C1 The show is the longest-
running soap opera in the UK, having been first
broadcasted in 1960, and is a beloved soap opera in the
country and has a large following, bringing in 6.46m
viewers in one week.
 It has won five BAFTA awards for best soap
opera/continuing drama

4. EastEnders
 EastEnders is shown on BBC One
 It is produced by the British Broadcasting Company
(BBC)
 EastEnders has a target audience similar to that of
Coronation Street, aiming at 13-60, male and female,
socio-economic group being E, D, C2, C1
 EastEnders attracted 5.69m in one week
 It has won seven BAFTA awards for best soap
opera/continuing drama.

5. Emmerdale
 Emmerdale is broadcasted on ITV
 The programme is produced by Yorkshire Television, also
known as ITV Yorkshire, another subsidiary studio of ITV
 Emmerdale has a target audience of 20-50 year olds,
male and female, in the socio-economic groups E, D, C2
 The programme has interested 5.29m viewers in one
week.
 Emmerdale has won just one BAFTA award for best soap
opera/continuing drama.

6. Hollyoaks
 Hollyoaks is broadcasted is on E4 and Channel 4
 It is produced by Lime Pictures, also known as Mersey
Productions
 The target audience of Hollyoaks is 15-30 year olds, male
and female, in the socio-economic groups E, D and C2
 The ratings for Hollyoaks in one week was 836,000
 Hollyoaks has won one British Soap award for best soap

7. Doctors
 Doctors is aired on BBC One
 It is produced by the British Broadcasting Company
(BBC)
 The target audience for Doctors is C2, C1, B, both male
and female, aged 25-50
 The ratings for Doctors in one week was 1.22m
 Doctors have not won an award for best soap, but have
won 22 awards in total.