The Bridge: Industry

Question 1

Production, distribution and circulation

Answer 1

• distributed in UK by PSB: “BBC Four’s primary role is to reflect a range of UK and international arts, music and culture”
• distributed to over 150 countries
• co-production: easier access to two countries for filming, logistical problems of regulations so followed working regulations of Sweden
• broadcast on SVT in Sweden (PSB): license fee funded, serve public, informative, please audiences
• broadcast on DR1 in Denmark (PSB): license fee funded, large national audience, mainstream
• on Netflix in some countries: targets new audience via suggested content

Question 2

Significance of economic factors

Answer 2

• international co-production means economic responsibility shared, more contributors, bigger budget
• The Copenhagen Film Fund helped fund series 3: more Danish crew members employed
• €1 million grant from Creative Europe MEDIA for series 3: support and maintain high production values, provides financial backing for high quality, high budget European TV drama series.

Question 3

The relationship of recent technological change

Answer 3

• broadcast post watershed in UK but streaming online makes watershed useless as available at any time
• broadcast same time in Sweden and Denmark to avoid piracy and spoilers for Danes as this is on the increase due to social media

Question 4

Impact of digital convergence

Answer 4

• use social media to publicise the show and attract and tease audiences: #’s used to create trends and encourage audiences to join in discussions
• interviews online and on daytime chat shows e.g. This Morning targets audience

Question 5

Global industry

Answer 5

• popularity despite language barrier: use of subtitles
• prime time BBC4 slot dedicated to foreign language dramas
• distributed worldwide, accessibility in subtitles
• international remakes illustrate success: maximising profit, minimising risk with successful format
• on Netflix in some countries: targets new audience via suggested content
• marketing material uses BBC logo to add mark of quality and respectability and uses nordic noir genre conventions to target audience
• reflects context of attitudes towards family and autism
• repetition and difference: crime drama, difference in location

Question 6

Influence of context on production

Answer 6

• subtitled programmes niche although coproductions on rise
• aren’t under pressure from advertisers to attract huge audiences so can take risk
• reflects social context of attitudes towards family and autism
• main character being female influenced by changing attitudes towards women
• existing nordic noir genre means it could be successfully marketed globally, builds a loyal fanbase by establishing codes and conventions and reduces the economic risk.