The second blog task for Class covers the Audience and Industry key concepts.
You can find the notes from the lessons below and then simply scroll down to find the blog tasks you need to complete.
Audience
It was broadcast initially on BBC Three (online only) to poor audience figures and later broadcast on BBC One between 10.45pm and 11.15pm slots.
When the programme was on BBC One it was aired at 11.30pm had an audience of 0.28 million, a share of 5.1% of total TV audience. Around 250,000 have accessed the episode on iPlayer
Target audience
- Some mainstream appeal as it is linked to the ‘Whoniverse’ (Doctor Who universe) but too niche perhaps for a mass audience?
- The show tried to appeal to young adult audience by including sexual scenes, more violence and more daring representations. Why was this not effective?
- 15 certificate: ‘strong bloody violence, gory images, injury detail’
- References to popular culture (pop culture) has meant an appeal to a wider age range.
- Demographics: A-E class as some complex plot points but also action and SFX that are easy to understand
- More diverse representation regarding gender, race and sexuality.
Fans - the 'Whoniverse' reaction
Watch this fan reaction video on Co-owner of a Lonely Heart from the Doctor Who YouTube channel:
Industries
- iPlayer release only initially.
- BBC One late showing (after 10.30 slots). Poor scheduling.
- The show was axed after one series. Why was this?
- No-one – not even the BBC – seemed entirely sure who the show was for. A teen-oriented drama with adult themes, spun off from a series intended (primarily) for children, the tone of Class was confused.
- Creator Patrick Ness was baffled by the decision to air the series in double-bills, late at night, more than two months after its BBC Three debut.
- It sorely lacked a big selling point. Clearly, spinning itself off from Doctor Who was not enough to guarantee success.
Class distribution
Media distribution is a term for the way the product reaches audiences. In the case of Class it was originally distributed (shown) online only on BBC Three. It was then shown weeks later in a late night slot “the graveyard slot” on BBC One.
It was also shown on BBC America where it was slightly more popular. In America, the episodes were paired with Doctor Who episodes to create a ‘Whoinverse’ double bill.
Overall, the confused distribution model was almost certainly part of its downfall.
Class marketing and promotion
As Class was aimed at an older audience, there was a clear shift in the way it was marketed from traditional Doctor Who episodes (on a Saturday early evening slot).
Online marketing: Strong web presence. Highly interactive. Lots of video clips, interviews, fan art and fiction. Trying to build brand loyalty BUT criticised for not making more of its link to Doctor Who.
Teaser trailer:
Longer trailer:
BBC3 focus
What is BBC Three and how does it fit into the profile of the BBC remit?
- To provide information (that is supposed to be balanced)
- To support learning for people of all ages
- To produce creative output
- To have diverse content (such as with its representations)
- To reflect the United Kingdom, its culture and values to the world
BBC regulation reminder
Class: Audience and Industry blog tasks
Create a new blogpost called 'Class: Audience and Industry blog tasks' and answer the following questions:
Audience
1) What were the viewing figures for Class and why do you think it did so badly?
2) What audience psychographic groups might particularly enjoy Class?
3) What audience pleasures are offered by Class - Co-owner of a Lonely Heart? Apply Blumler and Katz's Uses and Gratifications theory to the episode. Make sure you provide specific examples from the episode to support your ideas.
Personal Relationships:
Diversion (Escapism):
Surveillance (Information / Facts):
4) Thinking of the 3 Vs audience pleasures (Visceral, Vicarious and Voyeuristic pleasures), which of these can be applied to Class - Co-owner of a Lonely Heart?
5) How did fans in the 'Whoniverse' (also known as 'Whovians') react to Class? Watch the fan reaction video (and read the YouTube comments) embedded above or check the comments in the extension articles below to help with this.
Industries
1) What was the objective of BBC3 when it was launched?
2) Why did BBC3 go online-only in February 2016?
3) How does Class - Co-owner of a Lonely Heart meet the BBC's mission statement to 'inform, educate and entertain'?
4) How did the distribution of Class contribute to the failure of the show with audiences?
5) What advertising and marketing was used to try and promote Class to an audience? Why do you think this wasn't very successful?
Comparison: An Unearthly Child and Co-owner of a Lonely Heart
1) How are the technical conventions different between 1963 Doctor Who and 2016 Class (e.g. camerawork, editing, sound and mise-en-scene)?
2) What similarities and differences are there between An Unearthly Child and Co-owner of a Lonely Heart in terms of the science-fiction genre?
3) What similarities and differences are there between An Unearthly Child and Co-owner of a Lonely Heart in terms of how they meet the BBC's remit to inform, educate and entertain?
4) How are representations of people, places and groups similar or different in the two shows?
5) What similarities and differences can you find in terms of the audience pleasures for An Unearthly Child and Co-owner of a Lonely Heart?
Grade 8/9 extension tasks and reading
Read this Digital Spy feature on why Class was cancelled after only one series. Do you agree with its criticisms regarding scheduling, audience and character development?
This Guardian review of Class is much more positive - but the comments 'below the line' (BTL) are largely critical. Do you agree with the original review or the comments - and why?
Read this Den of Geek fan review of Co-owner of a Lonely Heart. Do you agree with the praise and criticism in it and why?
Finally, read this Indiewire feature on Class. It contains plenty of references to other films and TV shows (intertextuality) - what popular culture references can you find in this article?
Your due date for this second Class blog task will be set on Google Classroom.
I really appreciate your support on this.
ReplyDeleteLook forward to hearing from you soon.
I’m happy to answer your questions, if you have any.
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Many thanks for your kind invitation. I’ll join you.
ReplyDeleteWould you like to play cards?
Come to the party with me, please.
See you soon...
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