• Why are studios used to make programmes when tape is so cheap and available?
Studios are well-known to the audience. They enjoy them and it works by having live parts in the studio and VTs so why change it? Studio programmes are popular and well-known, as long as they are making money and getting viewers, they will carry on being made. Different varieties of programmes with a variety of content can be created in the studio.
•What are magazine programmes? Why do audiences like them?
‘A television program that presents a variety of topics, usually on current events, in a format that often includes interviews and commentary’. – http://www.thefreedictionary.com/magazine+program
Magazine programs are created in a studio environment. It has VT’s which are out of the studio and normally pre-recorded. There is usually interviews, debates, demonstrations and performances. There are two kinds of magazine shows, these are specialised and general. As the name suggests, specialised is focused on a specific topic of interest and general is anything they want to put in it. Audiences like magazine programs because they are usually friendly and chatty so are relaxing to watch. The audience does not usually have to do a lot of thinking to understand the program. There is a range of magazine programmes that can fit into a certain demographics. Many would say Top Gear is for people who like cars and transport, but because of the humor it is now has a broader audience. The humor makes it easy to watch while learning about transport at the same time. The range of different items within the show keep the audience interested.
• What are the limitations of magazine shows? How can they be improved to ensure they continue?
Magazine shows are limited because they are based in the studio. There is only so much that you can do in a studio and it can become repetitive to the audiences. So to improve this they can have special shows like Top Gear, who do races that take place in various countries. The general programmes could do special episodes about a certain topic for something different to keep the audience interested.
• Consider other sources of distribution for magazines type shows?
The way everything is going at the moment, the next source of distribution will be on the internet. The Tom Green Show is broadcast on the internet, it fits into the criteria of a magazine show so this step of distribution is already taking place. It is hard to choose any other way of distribution because of the equipment needed to make a show. People cannot just create a magazine show on their own like the many YouTube videos that are available. It takes more than one person and a studio to create a magazine show.
