The American TV series as an entertainment product (2007)

Résumé du document

In September 2006, the traditional film du dimanche soir was deposed on the first two hertziennes French channels by three TV series. These three TV series are American ones: CSI (Les Experts), Without a Trace (FBI, portés disparus) and ER (Emergency Room, Urgences). After having being seen as a stop gap by main French channels, the TV series are now broadcasted at an hour of grande écoute. It is economic realities that have convinced channels to schedule TV series. American TV series strongly dominate this French TV series market. This domination can be seen not only in France but also in TV channels from all over the world; American TV series have such a thing as monopoly in the production of TV series. My work is going to present the American TV series as an entertainment product. TV series are an entertainment product because they give pleasure to their audience. But TV series are also part of the entertainment industry in the sense that TV series are not only produced to relax the audience but also to make a business. TV series as an entertainment industry or business involves many commercial issues such as the cost of advertising during a successful TV series.

Extraits

[...] A TV series has its own A TV series is not cinema; it is not a traditional fiction. As a consequence, TV series even have their own vocabulary. TV series have a very special “relationship” with their audiences: most of the time people are addicted. Nowadays, everybody has its own favourite TV series and declare to be “Grey's Anatomy addict” for example. Good TV series have a king of they succeed in keeping its audience for a very long time. [...]

[...] He stresses the fact that French TV series are everywhere. French TV series, like American one, have their own chef d'oeuvres. The main difference between French ones and American ones is the quantity. French productions do not have the same amount of money and as a consequence the number of series is much higher in the US. At the time where numerous American TV series have invaded or traditional French channels, there is no doubt that American TV series are an entertainment product and even an entertainment industry. [...]

[...] If the pitch is accepted, a is ordered by the channels. After its realization, the pilot is shown (in April) to channels CEO's. Kinds of tests are driven by the channels on people to see the reaction of this blind audience. It is amazing to observe that the cost for a pilot can sometimes be superior to four millions dollars. Channels have very precise vision of their need concerning the audience. In May the pilot season achieves and it is the hour for “upfronts”. [...]

[...] My work is going to present the American TV series as an entertainment product. TV series are an entertainment product because they give pleasure to their audience. But TV series are also part of the entertainment industry in the sense that TV series are not only produced to relax the audience but also to make business. TV series as an entertainment industry or business implies many commercial issues such like the cost of advertising during a successful TV series for example. [...]

[...] The production of the American TV series mainly takes place in Hollywood but despite this common point, several differences exist. The main distinction has to be made between traditional networks and independent ones. The three oldest networks are ABC[1], NBC[2] and CBS[3]. ABC belongs to The Wall Disney Company and was created at the end of the 40's. NBC is part of the media company NBC Universal, a unit of General Electric and Vivendi. NBC was launched in 1926. Finally, CBS was created in the 70's and acquired by Viacom recently. [...]