TV Drama – FormatsTV Drama – Formats TV is relentless in its search for drama, TV is relentless in its search for drama,

because drama engages and holds an because drama engages and holds an audience.audience.

There are four main categories of TV drama:There are four main categories of TV drama: Single DramaSingle Drama SeriesSeries SerialsSerials SoapsSoaps

There is considerable variety within each There is considerable variety within each category and each offers different forms of category and each offers different forms of enjoyment for the viewer.enjoyment for the viewer.

Single DramaSingle Drama

The single drama used to be a staple of The single drama used to be a staple of television but is now quite rare. It is television but is now quite rare. It is designed as a ‘one-off’ story for designed as a ‘one-off’ story for television. Single dramas are often television. Single dramas are often based on topical issues – subject matter based on topical issues – subject matter that producers think is more that producers think is more appropriate to television than the appropriate to television than the cinema, for example ‘Dirty War’ about a cinema, for example ‘Dirty War’ about a terrorist attack on London.terrorist attack on London.

SeriesSeries

This is a programme broadcast This is a programme broadcast regularly, usually once a week, regularly, usually once a week, where the same characters and basic where the same characters and basic situation will be used to tell a situation will be used to tell a different story in each episode. An different story in each episode. An example of this format is CSI.example of this format is CSI.

SerialSerial

This format also uses the same This format also uses the same characters and locations regularly, but characters and locations regularly, but each episode is not complete in itself each episode is not complete in itself and storylines will continue through to and storylines will continue through to the next episode encouraging us to the next episode encouraging us to watch again this time next week to see watch again this time next week to see what happens next. Often serial what happens next. Often serial narratives carry more than one storyline narratives carry more than one storyline – American series such as ER may have – American series such as ER may have as many as four or five.as many as four or five.

SoapSoap

Soaps have multiple characters who Soaps have multiple characters who carry many storylines at once. carry many storylines at once. Usually no single storyline will Usually no single storyline will dominate and storylines can carry on dominate and storylines can carry on for weeks or even months before for weeks or even months before coming to a conclusion, for example coming to a conclusion, for example Stacey’s affair in EastEndersStacey’s affair in EastEnders