Bignell, J. (2013) An Introduction to Television Studies, London: Routledge.
Creeber, G. (ed) (2014) The Television Genre Book, London: Palgrave Macmillan/BFI.
Evans, E. (2011) Transmedia Television, London: Routledge.
Jacobs, J. & Peacock, S. (eds) (2013) Television Aesthetics and Style, London: Bloomsbury.
Lees, N. (2010) GREENLIT, London: Methuen Drama.

See module handbook for a full listing of reading texts.

A GROUP PORTFOLIO length 2500 WORDS weighted at 50%. Learning Outcomes 1-5. This assignment will contain a group programme proposal.

A 2nd GROUP PORTFOLIO length 2500 WORDS weighted at 50%. Learning Outcomes 3-7. This assignment will contain a detailed audience based research project.


Key Information Set Data:
100% Coursework

Blackboard, Library and online resources, TV/DVD/Audio playback facilities.
The Blackboard virtual learning environment will be available to support this module. Details will be supplied in the module handbook.

This module offers you an accessible introduction to the study of a range of popular broadcast genres and their audiences. The aim will be to identify significant conventions, forms and debate surrounding programmes when they are read, consumed and interpreted by audiences. The module will also critically examine the classification of texts and their central relationship to the contemporary schedules and the factors that remain in the scheduling process. The module intends to explore and reflect upon the range of television forms, with a particular emphasis upon contemporary trends in programming and their interaction within the multi-channel broadcast climate. How are television programmes accessed by viewers against shifting public attitudes, changes in lifestyle and work/leisure practices and how do these shape the content and form of output? The theoretical issues surrounding genre and the aesthetic viewing pleasures are also be addressed through specific reference to the more familiar genres such as music and sport, and also with an introduction to oppositional genres such as alternative-comedy and experimental documentary. The module will also consider the ways in which genre construction can be applied to the development of a programme format, taking into account audience, text, reception and other contributing factors affecting the pre-production stages. The module provides a detailed understanding of the particular tastes and interests of target audiences and the range of audience research methods and feedback mechanisms that are accessed by broadcasters to establish popular content.

There will be a mixture of lectures, screenings and workshops to address the key issues within the module, giving an opportunity to research the current television industry, commissioning processes, production roles and audience demands. The workshops would also creatively discuss a programme pitch and a package that would sit well within the contemporary schedules, as well as being attractive to both broadcasters/independent production companies and their viewing audience(s). The workshops will work towards the compilation of the production portfolios and specific case studies and scenarios. The independent research will be group based and draw upon a range of research skills appropriate to the television industry. The challenges and demands of television will be emphasised through contributions from industry visiting speakers.

Key Information Set Data:
22% scheduled L&T activities
78% guided independent learning