media industries

Question 1

historical context: when was the archers originally established?

Answer 1

in 1951

Question 2

historical context: what was the archers originally established to be about?

Answer 2

to educate farmers which, it was hoped, would increase food production after the second world war

Question 3

historical context: what was the show thought to used as?

Answer 3

a way for the Ministry of Agriculture to communicate important information to farmers

Question 4

social and cultural context: how does the archers happen in real time when possible?

Answer 4

it portrays events taking place on the date of broadcast, allowing a variety of topical subjects to be included

Question 5

social and cultural context: what is often written into the script?

Answer 5

If a real- life event can be predicted

Question 6

social and cultural context: what unforeseen events have been weaved into?

Answer 6

into the script with scenes being re-written and re-recorded as a short notice such as the 9/11 attacks, the death of princess margaret and the 2001 foot and mouth crisis

Question 7

consider the importance of different funding models and production processes:

what 2 categories falls into radio broadcasting and tv?

Answer 7

public service
commercial broadcasting

Question 8

consider the importance of different funding models and production processes:
what is commercial broadcasting?

Answer 8

primarily based on the practice of airing radio advertisements and television advertisements for profit

Question 9

consider the importance of different funding models and production processes:
what is public service?

Answer 9

radio and TV broadcasting done in the service of the public, which means that they must provide a service for all, paid for by all of us

Question 10

consider the importance of different funding models and production processes:
how is commercial broadcasting funded?

Answer 10

by the sale of advertising slots

Question 11

consider the importance of different funding models and production processes:
how is public service broadcasting funded?

Answer 11

by public money either directly from the government or a licence fee

Question 12

consider the importance of different funding models and production processes:
how is the BBC radio funded in the uk?

Answer 12

by a license fee

Question 13

consider the importance of different funding models and production processes:
what is the radio four?

Answer 13

the BBC’s main spoken-word channel, and so is funded by the licence fee

Question 14

consider the importance of different funding models and production processes:
why does the bbc have a public service remit?

Answer 14

to educate, inform and entertain

Question 15

consider the importance of different funding models and production processes:
what is the remit of bbc radio four?

Answer 15

to be a mixed speech service, offering in-depth news and current affairs and a wide range of other speech output including drama, readings, comedy, factual and magazine programmes

Question 16

consider the importance of different funding models and production processes:
how is their public service remit linked to the archers original establishment?

Answer 16

was originally established to educate farmers

Question 17

consider the importance of different funding models and production processes:
what has the show soon became?

Answer 17

became a major source of entertainment for people from all walks of life, not just the rural community

Question 18

consider the importance of different funding models and production processes:
however, what has the show still prides itself?

Answer 18

on the quality of its research and its ability to portray real rural life

Question 19

consider the importance of different funding models and production processes:
what does producing a radio series like the archers require?

Answer 19

tight schedules and long term planning

Question 20

consider the importance of different funding models and production processes:
when does the production team meet and do what?

Answer 20

meet biannually to plan the following months, and sometimes even years’ worth of storylines

Question 21

consider the importance of different funding models and production processes:
what happens in monthly script meetings?

Answer 21

where four writers have to produce
a week’s worth of scripts each

Question 22

consider the importance of different funding models and production processes:
when does recording take place?

Answer 22

every four weeks

Question 23

consider the importance of different funding models and production processes:
what do actors do in recordings?

Answer 23

actors only receive their scripts a few days before

Question 24

consider the importance of different funding models and production processes:
how long are actors employed for?

Answer 24

six days in which they record 24 episodes
There is very little room for error as each 13 minute episode is only allocated two hours of studio time

Question 25

consider the importance of different funding models and production processes:
when are episodes broadcasted?

Answer 25

3-6 weeks after recording

Question 26

consider the importance of different funding models and production processes:
what happens due to these recording schedules?

Answer 26

actors are not held on retainers and are not employed full time on a show and often have careers in film, theatre, television and other radio shows

Question 27

consider regulation of the media:
who regulates radio broadcasting?

Answer 27

Ofcom
the government-approved regulatory authority for broadcasting

Question 28

consider regulation of the media:
what does the Ofcom set?

Answer 28

standards for programmes

Question 29

consider regulation of the media:
what is one of Ofcom’s duties?

Answer 29

to examine specific complaints by listeners about programmes broadcast on channels that it has licensed

Question 30

convergence

Answer 30

the fact that two or more things, ideas, etc. become similar or come together

Question 31

consider the impact of technologies and convergence:
why are there a variety of ways for fans to engage with the show?

Answer 31

in order to keep up with the different ways people prefer to consume their media

Question 32

consider the impact of technologies and convergence:
what can listeners do aside from the regular radio shot? (4)

Answer 32

can catch up with the omnibus on a Sunday
hear recent episodes repeated on BBC Radio Four Extra
download the podcast
listen ‘on demand’ through BBC iPlayer Radio

Question 33

consider the impact of technologies and convergence:
what can listeners alternatively check out?

Answer 33

The Archers’ page on the BBC website
follow the show on social media by following it on Twitter or liking their Facebook page

Question 34

consider the impact of technologies and convergence:
what does all of these platforms provide?

Answer 34

help audiences increase their enjoyment of the show and make it as accessible as possible for them to keep up to date with it

Question 35

the brand:
why is the archers a big business for the BBC?

Answer 35

it’s the most listened to BBC programme online

Question 36

the brand:
what are massively important in today’s society?

Answer 36

market share and brand identity are massively important and The Archers succeeds on both of these

Question 37

the brand:
what if the BBC was ever to lose its license fee?

Answer 37

there are certain shows that it is guaranteed people would pay to subscribe to – The Archers is one of these

Question 38

the brand:
what is therefore important about the brand?

Answer 38

it’s important that the producers keep the show fresh.
One way of doing this is by introducing new characters or pushing the boundaries on plotlines