Page 231 - A Handbook Genre Studies in Mass Media

CHAPTER 8

6. Examine the weekly TV Nielsen ratings of the top 100 shows of
the current television season. What trends can you identify?
a. What are the most popular genres?
1. Number of programs appearing in the top 100?
2. Number of programs appearing in the top 10?
b. Which genres appear the fewest times on the list?
c. Spin-offs
1. Number of programs appearing in the top 100?
2. Number of programs appearing in the top 10?
d. Franchise brands (e.g., CSI)
1. Number of programs appearing in the top 100?
2. Number of programs appearing in the top 10?
e. How many shows appear more than once (e.g., American Idol
shown on Tuesdays and Thursdays)?
f. How many programs that are pirated shows appear on the list?

What does this analysis reveal with respect to the impact of the in-
dustry on genres?

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