Television: TV scheduling, especially genre

The Definition of TV Scheduling

Television scheduling refers to the organisation of television programmes in a planned manner to attract and retain specific audience demographics.
Television scheduling takes into account factors such as time of day, target audience, programme genre, and day of the week.
Fundamental in planning a TV schedule are primetime slots, which usually run from 8:00pm to 11:00pm on weekdays, and their allocation is key to maximising viewer ratings.

Understanding TV Genres

A genre refers to a category of TV programmes having similar themes, formats, or styles.
Common genres include drama, comedy, reality, documentary, news and sports. Each of these attracts a distinct audience demographic which affects their scheduling.
Genres can cross-over or merge to create hybrid genres, further diversifying content and appealing to broader audience segments. An example is the ‘dramedy’ – a combination of drama and comedy.

Role of TV Scheduling in the Media Industry

Scheduling aims to maximise viewer numbers to in turn maximise advertising revenues. Higher viewer ratings at particular times mean higher advertising rates can be charged.
It also aids in forming viewer habits, by placing certain types of programmes or specific shows at the same time each day or week. These ‘appointment to view’ shows can build a loyal audience base providing a reliable and maintained viewer count.
Scheduling contributes to a broadcaster’s brand identity. The type and quality of programmes scheduled can shape public perception of the channel or broadcaster.

Impact of On-demand and Streaming Services

The rise of on-demand and streaming services like Netflix, Amazon Prime, and iPlayer has disrupted traditional TV scheduling. These services allow viewers to watch their desired programmes at any time and can diminish the impact of a strategically planned broadcast schedule.
They have also led to the practise of ‘binge-watching’, where entire seasons of a show are released at once for viewers to watch at their own pace. This contrasts with traditional scheduling where episodes are released weekly.
However, some streaming services like Disney+ have opted to release episodes on a weekly basis, resembling traditional TV scheduling, indicating that the approach maintains some relevance even in the digital age.

Remember, a deep understanding of the intricacies of TV scheduling and genre extenuates knowledge of the wider media industry and its ever-evolving landscape.