Audiences

Question 1

Who is the Primary Target Audience of ‘The Bridge’?

Answer 1

Fans of Nordic noir - more alternative/niche audiences
ABC1 (Subtitles and BBC Four slot)

Question 2

Who is the Secondary audience of ‘The Bridge’?

Answer 2

More mainstreamers fans of crime texts 15+ (TV slot post-watershed)

Question 3

Other possible target audiences of ‘The Bridge’

Answer 3

-Cross gender appeal - female audiences identify with Saga (role model)
-People who enjoy the thrill of crime dramas
-Those interested in Scandinavian culture -
-Inherited fan bases e.g from ‘The Killing’

Question 4

What pleasures do audiences derive from watching ‘The Bridge’ (4)

Answer 4

-Audiences may identify with Saga or other characters (Identification - Uses & Gratification model)
-Audiences may use the text as escapism (Diversion - Uses & Gratification model)
-Enigmas
-Two-step Flow (“Excellent” from The guardian. Paper acs as opinion leader, audiences believes in shows quality because of this)

Question 5

Other reasons audiences watch ‘The Bridge’

Answer 5

-Audience expectations of genre
-Pleasure of intellectual puzzle
-Escapism
-Character identification
-Social needs fulfilled

Question 6

How does the show position audiences with Saga?

Answer 6

Positioned with Saga & the restricted narrative means we only know what she knows. We Therefore seek answers to narrative - Enigma codes (Barthes) as a does.

Question 7

How is the audiences positioned with the narrative?

Answer 7

We solve the mystery alongside Saga and become part of the team. This fulfils the audiences needs for belonging or social needs within Blume & Katz Uses & Gratifications model

Question 8

How is the audience positioned to decode Saga?

Answer 8

Positioned to decode Saga as “different” (lack of social awareness, literal interpretations) but sympathetic and vulnerable - particularly through her back story and her relationship with her mother

Question 9

How is the audience positioned with the forces of law?

Answer 9

Positioned with the forces of law & order to see certain criminal behaviours as deviant

Question 10

How many people viewed season 3 of ‘The Bridge’?

Answer 10

Generally around 1.3-1.8M viewers

Question 11

What was the Imdb rating of ‘The Bridge’

Answer 11

8..6/10 from 33,259 responses, with very similar gender split

Question 12

What is the prefers reading of ‘The Bridge’? (Stuart Hall - Reception Theory)

Answer 12

Proffered reading - A “quality” crime drama, driven by enigmas. And a classic investigative narrative. Enjoyed by fans of Nordic noir in particular

Question 13

What might an oppositional reading of ‘The Bridge’ be? (Stuart Hall - Reception theory)

Answer 13

Oppositional reading - Audinces may struggle to find Saga a sympathetic character. audiences may view her apparent autism with concern or find it difficult to connect with her emotionally as her responses are so different to our expectation and she lacks humour

Question 14

What might a more conservative audience view be of ‘The Bridge’ ? (Stuart Hall)

Answer 14

A more conservative audience may respond negatively to the Swedish liberal attitudes to sex, gender and political correctness

Question 15

Once the programme was established how did The Bridge engage audiences?

Answer 15

The marketing material used the recognisable characters, setting and iconic opening soundtrack to engage with audiences.

Question 16

What type of audience does The Bridge attract?

Answer 16

A more niche, less mainstream BBC 4 audience who are targeted through their expectations based on the brand identity of the channel.

Question 17

What is BCC 4’s primary role?

Answer 17

BBC 4’s primary role is to reflect a range of UK and International arts, music and culture. It should provide an ambitious range of innovative, high quality programming that is intellectually and culturally enhancing.

Question 18

Who will the inherited audience be of The Bridge?

Answer 18

Fans familiar with the Nordic noir dramas broadcast on this channel for example ‘The Killing’

Question 19

What pleasured do audiences get from watching The Bridge (Uses and Gratification theory)

Answer 19

-The bridge has typical codes and conventions of a crime drama but an element of escapism and diversion through the different characters, setting and culture.
-Audiences may gain pleasure from following the investigators as they attempt to solve the crime.

Question 20

Who will loyal audiences have become familiar with?

Answer 20

Loyal audiences will have become familiar with the character of Saga and have expectations of how her character will behave and may develop based on other series.

Question 21

How may a feminist audience respond to The Bridge?

Answer 21

Feminist audiences are likely to feel empowered by the inclusion of strong, powerful women in the storyline, by the representations of a lesbian relationship and the narrative addressing gender issues.

Question 22

What might a negotiated reading of The Bridge be? (Stuart Hall)

Answer 22

They may enjoy the typical codes and convention of a crime drama, enigmas and the involvement with the investigative narrative, but feel more uncomfortable with the specific focus of the narrative. Swedish and Danish audiences may engage with the drama but feel that the cultural depictions and stereotypical.