Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84 +MULTI+2.11; site stc.UUCP
Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!allegra!mit-eddie!genrad!panda!talcott!harvard!seismo!mcvax!ukc!stc!pete
From: pete@stc.UUCP (Peter Kendell)
Newsgroups: net.sf-lovers,net.tv
Subject: Re: THE TRIPODS (based on John Christopher)
Message-ID: <585@stc-b.stc.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 17-Sep-85 05:45:56 EDT
Article-I.D.: stc-b.585
Posted: Tue Sep 17 05:45:56 1985
Date-Received: Fri, 20-Sep-85 06:37:32 EDT
References: <1128@mtgzz.UUCP> <577@stc-b.stc.UUCP> <1152@mtgzz.UUCP>
Reply-To: pete@stc.UUCP (Peter Kendell)
Organization: STC Telecoms, London N11 1HB.
Lines: 52
Xref: watmath net.sf-lovers:10166 net.tv:3236

Summary:
Expires:
Sender:
Followup-To:
Distribution:
Keywords:
Xpath: stc stc-b stc-a
Xref: ukc net.sf-lovers:4901 net.tv:211

In article <1152@mtgzz.UUCP> ecl@mtgzz.UUCP (e.c.leeper) writes:
>>         A new series has just started here.
>
>For the benefit of those Americans that don't speak British, I would like to
>point out that a "series" in Britain is equivalent (more or less) to a "season"
>here.
>
>So this doesn't mean another (American) series, but a continuation (American
>season) of what is now running here.

Well, only more or less.

As I understand it, an American season lasts six months, or 26
episodes. This is usually dependent on audience figures, with the
show being reviewed half-way through the season. My source is 'The
Making of Star Trek' by Roddenbury and Whitfield, plus observation.

Over here, and on the BBC (source of 'The Tripods') at any rate, a
series can consist of 6, 12 or 13, or 26 episodes.

Typically, a comedy series such as 'Monty Python', 'Fawlty Towers' or
'The Hitchhiker's ...' runs for 6 weeks.

A drama series would typically run for 12 or 13 weeks. I suppose
'Upstairs, Downstairs' falls into this category.

Only a few shows run the full 26 weeks. 'Dr. Who' is the obvious
case here.

Then you have soaps for local consumption, 'Coronation St.',
'Crossroads', 'Brookside' etc. that run all year round and 2 or 3
episodes a week. These are *never* bought by the U.S!!!

Because PBS and the networks tend to buy British material when it
has already been running for a while over here there is often enough
to fill a six-month period.

The situation with commercial TV is slightly different as the
programs are made with tight schedules and commercial breaks in mind.
An ad agency likes to bulk-buy slots with reliable audiences so
longer runs of modulo 1/2 hour length are popular.

BTW, did you know that D****s runs only 47 minutes on the BBC?
Program lengths *have* to be flexible here!

I am, as ever, open to correction by the better informed.
-- 
	Peter Kendell <pete@stc.UUCP>

	...mcvax!ukc!stc!pete

	'Only too far is far enough'


Brought to you by Super Global Mega Corp .com