The British and American broadcasting models have a unique and complex relationship. In the UK, TV is centralized and covered by a single license fee (TV Licence, n.d.). The £157 can be paid once a year, or separated into monthly installments. There are also discounts for people with visual impairments, and those over the age of 75 are entitled to receive a free TV license. Furthermore, it is notable that a single TV license can cover an entire household, rather than a single person, which could result in substantial savings. However, the rules regarding this are not as straightforward as they may seem. While living in the same house usually means that sharing a TV license is allowed, there is an exception. If one of the inhabitants of a household can be regarded as a separate entity unrelated to the other occupants, they might need to purchase a separate license. The issue with this vague policy is that it is often unclear whether it applies to a certain case or not.
The US TV is organized differently, with many private stations that are licensed by the FCC. The decentralized nature of the American system has led to an unusual blend of old and new broadcasting technology. The original over-the-air television is free for everyone, while cable TV and other more advanced means of entertainment tend to require a monthly fee. In spite of this, the overwhelming majority of over-the-air broadcasters are commercial organizations. Instead of requiring a direct payment for their service, like their British counterparts, they make their profits from selling ads. This difference between the sources of income used by each model is likely to be the factor that makes American programs different.
It is well known that many successful contemporary programs are inspired by or based on older ones. In the US, there is a significant number of shows that bear a resemblance to some British series. For example, NBC’s The Office is a derivative of a British show with the same name and premise (Ricky Gervais, 2020). The productions share the same set of characters, with the most noticeable difference being their names and the same idea of creating a comedy around a workplace that is familiar to everyone. However, the two series have developed in completely different ways. The British version has only lasted for one season, while the American interpretation has 9, with a total of 201 episodes.
This contrast highlights the effect of the free market on broadcasting culture. British television is known for making shorter series, usually lasting from six to ten episodes, and ending when the creators feel that the story has been told. It appears that the writers have more freedom in the UK, as their scripts rarely undergo severe alterations, and they are working alone or in smaller teams. This results in British series being more concise, natural, and communicating the author’s intended message
In the US, shows are made with the primary purpose of creating revenue, which imposes an extensive set of limitations. The most noticeable difference is the extremely long lifetime of popular programs. It is perfectly logical from the business standpoint to continue producing a show if it is profitable. Consequently, series such as The Big Bang Theory sustainably supply the audience with new episodes, even though they hardly contain any fresh ideas. American writers tend to work in large teams, to ensure that the final result is the most likely to succeed. However, this detracts from the creative appeal of the show, making it more generic.
References
Edward R. Murrow | American journalist. (2020). Britannica. Web.
Ricky Gervais. (2020). Britannica. Web.
TV Licence. (n.d.). GOV.UK. Web.