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Global Media Formats

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Hibberd M.

Course director

Description

Course Objectives

  • The purpose of this module is to develop students' understanding of format or reality television.
  • Understanding the history of formats since the 1950s.
  • The course will examine changing economic and financial forces, especially the advent of digital TV, which direct and constrain the choices of managers in developing media formats.
  • Examine the specific programmes that have shaped multi- media production in the past two decades such as Big Brother, Love Island, Who Wants to be a Millionaire, Deal or No Deal.

Course Description

The rise of format programming has had an enormous impact on the media in the past few decades. Since the 1990s, formats have come to dominate TV schedules and have become symbolic of the way the media are changing in the face of the digital revolution. Formats have been developed as global businesses in the cut-throat environment of international media sales. Formats include game shows, factual entertainment programmes and drama. This course will provide a comprehensive introduction to the rise of TV formats from the 1950s until the present day and will also examine current trends in television-making especially with the advent of the internet and growth in digital channels.  The course will examine the range of issues related to formats at pre-production, production and post-production stages. We examine especially how the television industry is adapting to the digital era and the key role of TV formats in that economic and social development.

Learning Methods

The course will be structured on lectures led by Professor Hibberd. Sessions will be accompanied with power point presentations.

Attendance

Students must attend class for at least 60%. Teachers will not provide alternative teaching materials beyond online teaching materials presented in class.

Examination Information

The final grade will be composed of the results achieved by students:

  • Written 3000-word essay (90% of the final evaluation)
  • In-class participation (60% minimum) (10% of the final evaluation)

Required Material

  • Core Reading
  • Chalaby,. J. K. (2016) The Format Age: Television's Entertainment Revolution. Cambridge: Polity Press
  • Lotz., A.D (2014) (2nd Edition) The Television Will Be Revolutionized. New York: New York University Press
  • Additional Reading
  • Aveyard, K., Moran, A., and Maibritt, P. (2016) New Patterns in Global Television Formats. Bristol: Intellect
  • Bazalgette, P. (2005) Billion Dollar Game: How 3 Men Risked it All and Changed the Face of TV. London: Little Brown.
  • Battocchio, F. (2003) La produzione televisiva. Roma: Carocci
  • Buonanno, M. (2006) L’età della televisione. Bari: Laterza
  • Casetti, F, Di Chio, F. (1998) Analisi della televisione. Milano: Bompiani
  • Colombo, F. (ed.) (2004) Tv and Interactivity in Europe. Mythologies, Theoretical Perspectives, Real Experiences, Milano: Vita & Pensiero
  • Colombo, F., Vittadini, N. (eds.) Digitising Tv. Theoretical Issues and Comparative Studies across Europe. Milano: Vita & Pensiero
  • Creeber. G.(2015) The Television Genre Book. London: BFI
  • De Blasio, E., Gili, G., Hibberd, M., Sorice, M. (2007) La ricerca sull’audience. Milano: Hoepli
  • Demattè, C., Perretti, F. (2002) L’impresa televisiva. Principi economici e variabili strategiche. Milano: Etas
  • Litten, D. (1997) Der Schutz von Fernsehshow und Fernehserienformaten. in AA.VV., Format Protection in Germany, France and Great Britain. Colonia: FRAPA
  • Holland, P. (1997) The Television Handbook. London: Routledge
  • Menduni, E., Catolfi, A. (2002) Le professioni del video. Roma: Carocci
  • Moran, A. (1998) Copycat Television. Globalisation, Program Formats and Cultural Identity. Luton: University of Luton Press
  • Taggi, P. (2003) Manuale della televisione. Roma: Editori Riuniti
  • Alan Wolk (2015) Over The Top: How The Internet Is (Slowly But Surely) Changing The Television Industry. Create Space.

Education