economic reasons

Task 1

Stunts and complex physical action aren’t often in soaps, especially in

daytime serials. Such story events often take place offscreen and are referred

to in dialogue instead of being shown. This is because stunts or action scenes

are difficult to adequately depict visually without complex action, multiple

takes, and post production editing. When episodes were broadcast live, post

production work was impossible. Though all serials have long switched to being

taped, extensive post production work and multiple takes, while possible, are

not feasible due to the tight taping schedules and low budgets.

Some soaps employ a number of conventions, and many researchers have attempted to list

some of the typical characteristics. e.g. , Sonia Livingstone [1990 : 54]

believes the common soap opera features include :

transmission at regular,

frequent times, often daily; predominantly aimed at female viewers , occupying

day-time/early evening slots; use of fairly constant and large cast, over many

years, and a faithful audience; cheap production costs, regarded as low

prestige entertainment; concern with daily activities, centred on a small

community and/or large family; simulation of real time and realistic events;

interwoven narratives, with overlapping resolutions; 'cliff-hangers' to ensure

committed viewing; focus on female characters and 'feminine' or domestic

concerns. to give further dimension to these characteristic features, one

should also consider Brown's list [cited in Fiske, 1987 : 179/80] : resists

narrative closure; multiple characters and plots; abrupt segmentation between

parts; emphasis on dialogue, problem solving and intimate conversation; male

characters are generally 'sensitive men'; female characters who are often

professional or otherwise powerful in the world outside the home; the home, or

some place that functions as a home, as the setting for the show.

Task 2

Eastenders had to cut down to 16 actors per episode because of the recession

which caused them to cut down the amount of actors acting in one episode and to

also had to let such actors leave like Sid Owen, who plays Ricky Butcher, and

Danniella Westbrook, better known as Sam Mitchell. They have saved from this,

the savings, including a freeze on executive pay and reduced fees for the

biggest stars, followed 7,200 job cuts over the previous four-and-a-half years.

The annual budget for EastEnders remains a closely guarded secret.

Task 3

The  BBC spent an amount of £102.5m last year on six TV soaps – including

EastEnders, Casualty, Holby City and Doctors  which they then drop 20% of

overall in real terms in the past eight years.

task 4

The show eastenders,

got £700,000 on their anniversary half-hour show that was live which happened

last year.

The corporation bosses have an extra million pound which was over

and above costs which was needed to fund the 25th anniversary programme.

The figures reveal in a report by the National Audit Office (NAO) into the way the

BBC manages the costs of a continuing drama, also this shows the Eastenders

soap will spend around £7 million on cast this year. this information shows the

amount spent on the soap is increasing.

The cost of six key dramas, like

EastEnders and Casualty, has reduced by a fifth in real terms over the past

eight years.

With the audience declining, the NAO study shows that the cost

per viewers from the six programmes had actually risen by 9% in actual terms

over the same time of periods.

Task 5

As the recession is hitting ITV,the Sun reports today that coronation street cast are getting a pay cuts.

The sun says Coronation street recieved letters recently before Christmas saying the saturday soap omnibus would be moved directly from ITV 1 to ITV as of this weekend.

The Coronation Street  cast members are currently paid the same fee, which is 37.5 per cent of their episode pay, for showing in the omnibus. Although with the show moving to digital channel, actors would be forced to pay a small royalty fee instead.

Last night the cast members and representatives from their union Equity held talks with ITV accountants.

Coronation Street spokeswoman Alison Sinclair confirmed discussions had begun. She told TV Biz: "We are in the process of talking to cast members whose pay may be affected by the ending of the omnibus repeat on ITV1. We expect to come to an arrangement in the next few weeks. In the meantime we have confirmed that we will continue with repeat fee payments." 

extension work :

Go to the Wikipedia entry for Eastenders.

In the section entitled “Ratings” summarise how ratings have changed for the soap.


The Ratings have change since they have exploring more controversial issues. The more difficult story explore, the more the rating increased. They have 

Go to the Wikipedia entry for Coronation Street.

 In the section entitled “Viewing Figures” summarise how ratings have changed for the soap.

Answer the following questions:

1. Why do you think ratings and viewing figures have changed over the years for the UK’s two biggest soaps?

2. Is there a link between ratings and viewing figures and budgets?