TV: The rise of foreign-language television

Independent: British viewers can't get enough of foreign-language dramas

Read this Independent feature on foreign-language dramas. It features an in-depth interview with Walter Iuzzolino who curates Channel 4's Walter Presents programming. Answer the questions below:
1) What does the article suggest regarding the traditional audience for foreign-language subtitled media?

• Some audiences don't enjoy foreign languaged as they may be out of their comfort zone for watching television and they may find it boring and dull.

2) What does Walter Iuzzolino suggest is the key appeal of his 'Walter Presents' shows?

• Walter presents offers the ability to binge watch television programmes 

3) The article makes an interesting claim for the popularity of subtitles in the multi-screen age. What does it suggest?

• When audiences watch television they often get distracted by phones, digital media etc.. And therefore lose attention to the programmes they are watching but the power of subtitles means that auidience so have to stay engaged with the programmes in order to understand what is going on.

4) What are the other audiences pleasures of foreign TV drama suggested by the article?

• Surveillance- learning about other countries, cultures offers auidiences knowledge about the world.

Now look at the bonus article - on Sherlock and how viewers are steering their favourite shows.

5) What examples are provided of how TV companies are increasingly using audiences to inform the production process?

• TVs companies are now allowing the audiences to engage in the programmes they make for example the tv show eastenders is letting fans of the show create and pick storylines through social media.

Film School Rejects:

1) What does the article tell us about Deutschland 83's release schedule?

• The show was "Premiered on AMC Network’s Sundance TV in June 2015," and the show was the first German-language TV series to premiere in the US

2) The article contains important statistics on viewing figures in different countries. What were the German viewing figures for the first and last episode? What were Channel's 4's viewing figures for Deutschland 83?

• German viewing (first ep):3.19million 
• German viewing (last ep) : 1.63 million
• Channel 4 viewing :2.3 million

3) Who are the two production and distribution companies behind Deutschland 83 and what did they announce in October?

• Sun dance Tv 
• Free mantle media 
• A new season will be aired called Deutschland 86

4) What does the article suggest was the driving force behind the series being renewed for a new season (and possibly two new seasons)?

• The United States critical reception and the UKs Audiences viewing had a large role to playing the decision to make a new season 

5) How does Walter Iuzzolino use social media to engage audiences in new international TV dramas? How does he suggest this has changed the reception of foreign productions in the UK?

• Walter Iuzzolino uses social media to promote the programmes with trailer, teasers,poster and reviews
• The platform of social media has allowed auidiences to gain knowledge of foreign television and access to it 

IndieWire: The rise of international television

1) What does the article suggest regarding the difference between TV and film?

•  TV is more "culturally specific" and "tailored to domestic taste" than film

2) What cultural differences are highlighted in the article - for example in turning 'Prisoners of War' into 'Homeland' when remade in the US?

• The original focuses more on the experiences of the POWS where as the remake focuses more on the agent investigating the returning soldier 

3) Why do you think Deutschland 83 was able to rise above these cultural differences to be successful in the US and UK? Did this inadvertently make the drama fail in Germany?

•  D83 was very popular amongst westernised communities due to the mass amount of westernised elements added into the show from music, costume to James Bond nostalgia 

4) What does the article suggest about subtitling?

• "Koh feels that subtitles carry with them the unfair connotation of a more demanding viewing engagement"

5) What does Sopranos actor Steven Van Zandt suggest is the appeal in foreign television drama?

• " they would concentrate on nuance, detail, things that you would think would be very much of local interest."

The Guardian: How tech is changing television

1) What are the traditional lengths for TV drama and what dictated these programme formats?

Liscense fee: 59 minutes uninterrupted by commercials

• Commercial networks : 46 minutes with advertisement breaks 

2) How have streaming services such as Netflix or Amazon Prime changed the way TV drama narratives are constructed?

• Binge watching options so that people can watch programmes in one block 

3) Why has the rise in streaming led to more complex storylines and an increase in cliffhangers?
 
People get more engaged at cliffhangers and it prompts them to want to keep watching which binge watching allows them to do

4) How have the "economics of production" kept TV drama largely sticking to the 45- or 60-minute episode format?

TV dramas are most always filmed in blocks this allows them to maximise the amount of time they have and also keep the cost of actors and crew at a minimum

5) How has "permanent 24/7 connectivity" changed both the production and consumption of TV drama?
permanent 24/7 connectivity has drastically changed auidiences response to to and social medi has allowed spoilers,live broadcast img for the programmes which has a downside as some viewers can get enraged as they haven't watched a certain episode yet .