Research: TV Magazine shows

Research Of TV Magazine shows

Top Gear Season 4 Episode 1

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cz3y-ZQifC8

Content

• 5 minutes Introduction to the show.
• Reviews of cars (price, comparisons, performance). Different places, On-location
• Celebrity guests - Challenge (lap around a track). Draws in new audience.
• Special adventures (Israel, Iceland, Canada, Russia, India etc).
• The Stig (in-house challenge)

These are to create changes in pace and content to keep the viewer engaged and interested. This is also backed up by them splitting the adventure into two parts, which serves as a cliff hanger for further engagement. 

The content all appeals across multiple audiences for example.

• The review and tests - this is draws in the audience who want to know about the cars and see actual reviews
• Celebrity guests - this serves as a break and draws in the fan base of that particular person.
• Special adventures - this is the most comedic area of the program and allows for a change of pace and scenery and combines most audiences. 
•  The Stig is like a mascot and does not always appear, he acts as a sort of celebrity with only occasional appearances.

Structure
 
Structure is balanced

• Title sequence
• Introduction (brief summary?)
• Car introduction
• Chat
• Adventure part 1
• The News
• Celebrity Challenge
• Adventure part 2
• Car wall review
• On-location car ride (possible race)
• Stig
• Announce celebrity results from challenge
• Credits

This order is sometimes jigged around depending on the content, due to either length or suitability.

Presenters and Mise en Scene

• Jeremy Clarkson - Bombastic, excited, over the top
• James May - Calm, Clever
• Richard Hammond - serves as the balance between the Jeremy and James

Like the structure this creates balance within the show.

Tracking presenters, changes the pace, leads into the next section, is not slow which is backed up by members of the public in the crowd. This connotes community giving he viewer immersion with the show.

Throughout the show there is a heavy denotation of manliness shown through the camera angles and use of lighting which is often shot and edited to appear like an action movie during the showcasing of the cars and races which typically appeals to males, this said there are still female fans of the show as seen in the crowd at the beginning of the episode

Unlike the adventure parts which are shot like a documentary at points, not varying in angles much and are for the general purpose of showing use the content straight up as opposed to fancy angles. 
 
Camerawork

• Establishing shot introduction to the studio. 
• Panning shot to the TVs into the next section.

These are some of their own camera techniques found throughout all their episodes. This adds their won sort of signature style and makes the show more unique.

Use of Effects & Title (Editing)

Slow motion, flashes, reverse pull, zoom, panning, canted shots, invert, colour correction. These are to show off the car like an action trailer. To big the car up and to denote manliness as stated previously.


The Top gear wheel is also used as a transition is another technique found throughout.

Blue Peter

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k4axcL8WDUc

Content

Blue peters content is aimed to be education/informative, so a lot of the material is insight into various subjects, meeting people, talking to people and general exploration of various themes of interest to its target audience.

This means the pacing of the show is slow and focused on the topic at hand. However like Top gear there will be section where it cuts back and forth from one particular section for a change of pace. Though this is not as frequent as Top gear.

• Meeting people (members of the public)
• Post from guests
• Studio, around the area and outside 

The above where shown in the specific episode I looked at. The way this particular episode was structured was to big up the presenters as a grand opening to the new series.

Structure

• Opening sequence
• Introduction
• Content
• Meeting People
• Post/News
• More Content
• Guests
• Next time/ending

Like I said earlier there are jumps from content but not frequently as proved by this structure. Like other shows this is subject to change depending on the content.

There is general balance in this structure we have post/news in the centre giving a balanced split between the content to change tone/pace while being able to transition smoothly back into content, which is needed in shows like this where there is no advert break etc.

Presenters and Mise en Scene

The presenters are Barney and Helen. Here we have two people of the opposite gender to appeal to both halves. 

The general feel of the show is very modern, this is prevalent through features like the opening sequence using many special effects to appeal to a modern audience. We also have this backed up by the content looking at new technology and the trends of it. 

It is also reinforced by the colour scheme used and general set using blue and white (connotes future/advanced) colours and various lighting. This sticks with the modern appeal denoting technology and directly appealing to its audience. Blue is also a multi-gender colour and appeals to both sides rather than having a dedicated colour that only appeals to a select gender. Blue connotes calm, relaxation, ocean, sky and other peaceful implications which is reflected in the show through the tone of voice used by the presenters and pacing.

When the presenters go out they wear modern clothing that would be possibly worn or in fashion with the members of the audience this is to create a connection with the audience and direct appeal to the audience. This could also be used as influence to possibly change the dress style of the viewer.

Blue peter is presented as a whole in a friendly manor heavily reinforced by the tone of voice used which is calm to appeal to a younger audience.

Camerawork

We have establishing shots during the general opening in this case there is a helicopter vs boat sequence that introduces both presenters that are shot from long shots and low angles, connotes distance, power and speed used to show of the presenters and to open up the new season with a impressive display, which is why such camera work is used like in Top Gear.

In the studio general shots like medium close up and close up are used for when the presenters are talking or showing an object to give a clear view to the audience which are standard shot types used in magazine shows but are effective because of their suitability.

We also have group shots when the presenters go out and meet people. This has connotations of community and creates more intimacy with the audience, depending on the viewers opinion on the presenters and the show in general.

Use of Effects & Title (Editing)

Effects are used a lot during the opening and transition sequence to reinforce the modern feel of the show. Using flashes and 3D objects like a computer game or sci fi movie.

The One Show

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b04gmjh5/the-one-show-12092014 

Content

• Celebrity guest interviews
• History 
• People 
• Daily life
• Challenges (minimal)

The One Show works as more of an educational/ informative show rather than excitement, like blue peter but for an older or maturer audience. However their content would be suitable to both audiences, but maybe not of interest. This is also reinforced by the colour scheme used in the studio, mainly being a red/ purple shade but varies heavily throughout the studio which has heavy connotation of light hearted, informative, friendly, community. Which is also reinforced by the contrast of personalities with the presenters Chris being loud and obnoxious as opposed to how calm Alex is.

Unlike blue peter and top gear the one shows is more chat focused (in comparison) as it is more chat based with its guest, introducing them at the start of the show and having them involved throughout. Like blue peter this creates that community vibe with the audience as we get to know the guest over an extensive period of time, rather than just 5 minutes.

Structure

• Introduction
• Guest chat
• Story/insight
• Back to studio (guests)
• Story/insight with presenter
• Back to studio (guests)
• Possible quiz?/ other guest content
• Back to studio (guests)

The show despite being informative is quite quick in pace and is constantly transitioning back and forth between the studio and outside content. Like a news report, this continuously re-engages the audience depending on the viewers interest and is a solid structure and is more or less the most consistent in dedication to the structure. 

Presenters and Mise en Scene

The presenters are Chris and Alex and are both roughly middle-aged to appeal to its audience which will mostly consist of middle-aged people, but as said earlier can target a wider audience due to its content.

The use of colour is very bright and has a friendly well possible to appeal to everyone rather than a select audience. This is show through the editing not using colour correction and through the studio design using vibrant colours around the set and has various positive connotations.

Camerawork

The camerawork is done to be informative by using two shots and group shots and mostly close ups when out and about. This is not for entertainment or to reinforce a feel but rather to showcase and inform.

We also have various panning shots which is probably the most commonly used shot used apart from the two shots etc. The pan used the most is shot where the camera dives into the studio from above (possible crane, Ariel shot), which matches the opening and style of the show.

Use of Effects & Title (Editing)

Effects are only used during the title sequence. Which is slow paced and matches the feel of the show, but at the same time use of audio is loud and attention seeking. Even transitions are mostly clean cuts rather than a fade but depending on the story told can often feature a fade or another basic transition.