- The document discusses scheduling and institutional factors related to broadcasting comedy programming. - It prompts analysis of why a particular comedy show is broadcast at a certain time/day on different channels, comparing a public service channel like BBC3 to a commercial channel like ITV1. - Responses should focus on scheduling details and information about the institutions (channels), reading the question carefully as it may ask about one or two comedy programs.

1. BENIDORM

2. How does ‘Benidorm’ fit ITV’s institutional ethos? (The brighter side)Can students suggest why the series is a popular success?

3. Is the 9pm watershed still appropriate for today’s audiences or is it an outdated principle?As more homes go online, are young people becoming desensitised towards ‘inappropriate’ material? Should parents, not broadcasters, take responsibility for what their children see?

4. 4a - SchedulesWhat are the possible reasons for the programme’s time and day slot? (Fri 9pm)

5. What can you say about the channels programme mix?

6. Can you see any competition from other channels?

7. How does the brand image, target audience or mission statement of the channel affect their choice of programme?June 2010 – Question 4a Discuss in detail how and why one comedy programme was scheduled on one or more channels

8. Question 4(a)Need to know why a comedy is broadcast at a certain time and day of the week Need to compare comedy on a public service channel BBC3 & contrast this to a comedy broadcast on ITV1 a commercial channel.4a – FOCUS on schedules and information about the institutions (channels)

9. Question 4aYou need to READ the question as it may ask you to discuss ONE comedy or to compare TWOJune 2010 asked about ONE programmeWe will not know before the exam so we are preparing for TWO

10. June 2010 – Question 4a Discuss in detail how and why one comedy programme was scheduled on one or more channels

11. 4a) Friends is shown on E4 which is part of the Channel 4 institution which is aimed at a young audience like Friends is as it attracts categories from the audience demographic category E. It is shown 5pm until 6pm in paired episodes to hook viewers on E4 and is then repeated on E4+1 from 6pm to 7pm every weekday. This is because both these times are very competitive for the teenage audience slot; by showing it at both times the channel is more likely to gain more viewers. Back in 1994 Friends was broadcasted on Sky 1 and 9pm, before the watershed but was later bought by Channel 4 in 1996 as it proved very popular and as Channel 4 is under the public service broadcasting regulations it cannot show Friends on a stripped schedule in repeated blocks like E4 as it has to attract other audience demographics not just the niche audience Friends attracts. E4 was set up to appeal to a niche audience.June 2010 – Question 4a Discuss in detail how and why one comedy programme was scheduled on one or more channels

12. This answer clearly addresses both the how and why parts of the question with an effective discussion of both the scheduling and the institutional elements, even though the answer is rather short. The point about the competitive teenage audience slot is well made (though could be improved with some discussion of what the competitor channels are scheduling).

13. The candidate clearly understands how channel 4 uses E4 to attract a young audience, though one has to ignore the point about social class category E for this to make sense, and explains this in terms of PSB requirements. This answer assumes without exemplification that Friends will attract teenagers, but this is better than the many answers that got bogged down with long analyses of audience pleasures.

14. THIS IS BECAUSE AUDIENCE PLEASURES IS ADDRESSED IN QUESTION 4B SO DO NOT DISCUSS THIS DETAIL IN QUESTION 4A.