That’s seems to be so true, Sean yet its amazing how many Black-themed
programs run late at night there; particularly during the late 1980s and
1990s.
In talking with folks of color while doing my dissertation and book
research (especially Jan Oliver), they seem to feel that the BBC shunts
minority themed shows until late at night, to avoid displacing more
majority themed programming. The notion is majority white audiences may
not want to see these sorts of programs.
Here in the States, programming methodology of the commercial type has,
due to concerns over violent content during the 1950s and early 60s,
often considered children and the impact certain shows may have upon
them.
In the mid-1980s, after the umpteenth research project on content
analysis and of TV violence, producers and networks were asked by our
Congress to voluntarily place racier, more “adult-themed” programs later
at night, when children would hypothetically be sleeping.
The networks agreed to “consider” this practice (it wasn’t a mandate;
sponsors and producers trying to complete with the non-regulated cable
TV industry would never hear of it), and during the early part of the
evening placed more “family-themed” shows, such as sitcoms, during the
“family hour.”
Therefore, this first hour of network prime-time programming (8:00pm
until 9:00pm Eastern and Pacific, and 7:00pm until 8:00pm Central and
Mountain time) had most of the sitcoms and fantasy/soft-sci-fi shows.
This is still the practice for the most part, with even dramatic shows
featuring teens and children in pivotal roles within the narrative.
However, Murdoch’s upstart, the Fox Network, changed all that with The
Simpsons, which, though it is animated, features huge amounts of
“cartoon” or “comic violence.”
One can only guess what programmers at the BBC are thinking in their
decisions…
Darrell M. Newton, Ph.D.
Associate Professor, Mass Media and Cultural Studies
The Department of Communication Arts
Salisbury University
269 Fulton Hall
Salisbury, MD 21801
(410) 677-5060 Office
(410) 543-6229 Department
homepage: http://faculty.salisbury.edu/~dmnewton/
>>> SEAN CREIGHTON <[log in to unmask]> 11/12/09 3:46 PM >>>
It's not just black issues that get relegated to late slots. Late last
night it showed had George Clooney's excellent film about Ed Morrow's
fight on CBS against McCarthy.
Sean
|