We don't watch any soaps so don't really care if they die out or not. However, they seem to get high viewing figures, so they are presumably going to be around for a long while yet.
Russell T Davies fears soaps could 'die out within 10 years if they aren't careful'
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Originally Posted by bass55:
“Soaps are a victim of their own success in many ways. There's undeniably been a significant change in audience habits over the last decade, with the rise of on demand tv, but the decline in the quality of soaps cannot be ignored. There has been a noticeable decline in quality in all of the mainstream soaps in the last 10/15 years. I don't think it's any coincidence this decline coincided with the increased output - EastEnders has four episodes a week, Corrie has five, Emmerdale is on pretty much every day. When writers have to churn out so much material every week to fill the schedules the quality is inevitably going to be diluted. Producing soaps became all about quantity (and winning the 'ratings war') and less about quality.
I'm not sure there's any way back for soaps now, they've basically done everything/covered every possible issue there is to cover. EastEnders is now relying on recycling old plots and repackaging them as new ones (how many 'I'm secretly your mother' plots have we had now? It's tedious). No wonder people are tuning out. There are so many other shows available that actually still have the ability to create engaging characters and great drama (Breaking Bad, Sherlock, House of Cards, Orange is the New Black, Call the Midwife etc) we just don't see that in soaps any more.”
“Soaps are a victim of their own success in many ways. There's undeniably been a significant change in audience habits over the last decade, with the rise of on demand tv, but the decline in the quality of soaps cannot be ignored. There has been a noticeable decline in quality in all of the mainstream soaps in the last 10/15 years. I don't think it's any coincidence this decline coincided with the increased output - EastEnders has four episodes a week, Corrie has five, Emmerdale is on pretty much every day. When writers have to churn out so much material every week to fill the schedules the quality is inevitably going to be diluted. Producing soaps became all about quantity (and winning the 'ratings war') and less about quality.
I'm not sure there's any way back for soaps now, they've basically done everything/covered every possible issue there is to cover. EastEnders is now relying on recycling old plots and repackaging them as new ones (how many 'I'm secretly your mother' plots have we had now? It's tedious). No wonder people are tuning out. There are so many other shows available that actually still have the ability to create engaging characters and great drama (Breaking Bad, Sherlock, House of Cards, Orange is the New Black, Call the Midwife etc) we just don't see that in soaps any more.”
Yep, this is pretty much how I feel. I don't doubt soaps will stagger on for a fair old while, because TV schedules need filling, and they still pull in a reasonable continuing audience, but the golden age is over. I still watch Emmerdale and enjoy it, but they're all pretty much in the same tailspin, the victim of Big Ego Producers "making their mark", a desperate search for ratings above all else and with diminishing returns (all about the next Big Stunt, the next Big Signing, the next Big Return - none of them work long term), and the inability to tell a compelling story or create great characters ("storylining" AIN'T the same thing, and that's what the soap wonks learn now).
There's a fantastic age of quality TV drama going on out there - almost too much of it to catch up with - we can watch it when we want, and it makes soaps look tired and creatively bankrupt a lot of the time now.
I'm curious to know what they could be replaced by that could regularly get anywhere near 8 mill viewers several times a week.
Originally Posted by Mackenize:
“I reckon in 10 years the soaps will only be shown online.”
“I reckon in 10 years the soaps will only be shown online.”
This is what I was basically getting at. And this isn't exactly a bad thing as more and more it will become the norm. And with online tv giving SO many options - people now can watch tv shows online that don't even air in their countries, or at least won't air for ages. That's what younger generations are wanting and expecting now, and this will only increase as the young get older and the next generations will have grown up with the 'watch what you want, when you want' type of viewing.
Either they move with the times and find ways to stay relevant, or they don't. Either way it's not the end of the world - tv shows end every year.
The number of multiple threads on the same subject is becoming a joke now. Can people not do a simple search anymore??
Soaps are cheap to produce for the slot they are in and the ratings they command. Nothing else will come close to providing that kind of value for money in the foreseeable future.
With services like Netflix commissioning high quality series, however, there might come a point where traditional broadcasters are outmoded by this better way to consume content, but that's bigger than soaps and would effect the BBC / ITV as a whole.
If only there was some sort of large red button on the left of every post to press when threads don't meet your standards
With services like Netflix commissioning high quality series, however, there might come a point where traditional broadcasters are outmoded by this better way to consume content, but that's bigger than soaps and would effect the BBC / ITV as a whole.
Originally Posted by radcliffe95:
“The number of multiple threads on the same subject is becoming a joke now. Can people not do a simple search anymore??”
“The number of multiple threads on the same subject is becoming a joke now. Can people not do a simple search anymore??”
If only there was some sort of large red button on the left of every post to press when threads don't meet your standards
I would actually have liked to read a full interview with RTD on this. I'd be interested in hearing his thoughts on why the ratings have gone down, and possible solutions.
Strange that the article makes no mention of his previous work on Coronation Street.
Strange that the article makes no mention of his previous work on Coronation Street.
TiVo, Sky+, iPlayer, ITVplayer etc......
Peoples habits to watching soaps have changed - they can watch when they want
Peoples habits to watching soaps have changed - they can watch when they want
Soaps ratings haven't dropped too drastically, considering that Freeview TV is now the norm, they still get around the same numbers they did in 2007 back when having 4/5 channels was the norm.
Comparing viewing figures to a time before sky or cable etc was available is not a true representation. Obviously viewing figures have dropped since the introduction of multi channel packages because people have more choice.
I do think that soaps need to move on from the usual forever repeated cheating or love triangle storylines if they want to retain or increase audiences. A few original ideas are needed to keep them interesting and they seriously need to think bout their target audiences and consider public opinion more. Eastenders has been really poor for over a year now and corrie needs to Keep actors in a job for quality purposes not because you are all friends i.e. Corrie #axeantonycotton
I do think that soaps need to move on from the usual forever repeated cheating or love triangle storylines if they want to retain or increase audiences. A few original ideas are needed to keep them interesting and they seriously need to think bout their target audiences and consider public opinion more. Eastenders has been really poor for over a year now and corrie needs to Keep actors in a job for quality purposes not because you are all friends i.e. Corrie #axeantonycotton
I do think a lot of tv shows will eventually be shown online first and perhaps as standard at some point in the next 10 years. I don't think it would do any harm to the soaps, especially EastEnders, to be online exclusively. I doubt the watershed worshippers would have anything to say about the content since it won't be on television. The writers might be able to come up with more original storylines without the constraints of Ofcom.
Originally Posted by Broken_Arrow:
“I do think a lot of tv shows will eventually be shown online first and perhaps as standard at some point in the next 10 years. I don't think it would do any harm to the soaps, especially EastEnders, to be online exclusively. I doubt the watershed worshippers would have anything to say about the content since it won't be on television. The writers might be able to come up with more original storylines without the constraints of Ofcom.”
“I do think a lot of tv shows will eventually be shown online first and perhaps as standard at some point in the next 10 years. I don't think it would do any harm to the soaps, especially EastEnders, to be online exclusively. I doubt the watershed worshippers would have anything to say about the content since it won't be on television. The writers might be able to come up with more original storylines without the constraints of Ofcom.”
If this happened, they would loss a lot of viewers. Lots of older people watch the soaps and lots of them can't or don't want to use the internet. It's ok if you are young and clued up on these things but I suspect lots of people aren't. I also think that's why hollyoaks won best soap at the awards, If you look at general viewing figures, theres no way it's best soap because only a fraction of the total number of soap watchers actually tune in to it but the target audience is teenagers and students who use and learn about the internet as a matter of course so they are the people who can vote the easiest without all the hassle of posting their entrys. I also think that because of this, the awards in general are a sham and not a true representation of opinion, they just highlight the views of a proportion of the population.
Originally Posted by Ashley79:
“If this happened, they would loss a lot of viewers. Lots of older people watch the soaps and lots of them can't or don't want to use the internet. It's ok if you are young and clued up on these things but I suspect lots of people aren't. I also think that's why hollyoaks won best soap at the awards, If you look at general viewing figures, theres no way it's best soap because only a fraction of the total number of soap watchers actually tune in to it but the target audience is teenagers and students who use and learn about the internet as a matter of course so they are the people who can vote the easiest without all the hassle of posting their entrys. I also think that because of this, the awards in general are a sham and not a true representation of opinion, they just highlight the views of a proportion of the population.”
“If this happened, they would loss a lot of viewers. Lots of older people watch the soaps and lots of them can't or don't want to use the internet. It's ok if you are young and clued up on these things but I suspect lots of people aren't. I also think that's why hollyoaks won best soap at the awards, If you look at general viewing figures, theres no way it's best soap because only a fraction of the total number of soap watchers actually tune in to it but the target audience is teenagers and students who use and learn about the internet as a matter of course so they are the people who can vote the easiest without all the hassle of posting their entrys. I also think that because of this, the awards in general are a sham and not a true representation of opinion, they just highlight the views of a proportion of the population.”
The soaps are losing viewers anyway. 10 years from now the ratings will undoubtedly be a fraction of what they are in 2014. I think maybe it's just inevitable that the soap genre will die off at some point. Keep them on tv with dwindling ratings or stick them on the internet with less viewers willing or able to access them. Eventually someone is going to say the production costs aren't worth the returns in viewing figures and pull the plug.
Everything ends eventually and the soaps will be no different no matter how long it takes. I can't harbour under the illusion these shows will still be in existence for centuries to come when entire governments have risen and fallen in an instant. I can't imagine the world will stop turning just because Coronation Street and EastEnders are no more
Originally Posted by Broken_Arrow:
“The soaps are losing viewers anyway. 10 years from now the ratings will undoubtedly be a fraction of what they are in 2014. I think maybe it's just inevitable that the soap genre will die off at some point. Keep them on tv with dwindling ratings or stick them on the internet with less viewers willing or able to access them. Eventually someone is going to say the production costs aren't worth the returns in viewing figures and pull the plug.
Everything ends eventually and the soaps will be no different no matter how long it takes. I can't harbour under the illusion these shows will still be in existence for centuries to come when entire governments have risen and fallen in an instant. I can't imagine the world will stop turning just because Coronation Street and EastEnders are no more”
“The soaps are losing viewers anyway. 10 years from now the ratings will undoubtedly be a fraction of what they are in 2014. I think maybe it's just inevitable that the soap genre will die off at some point. Keep them on tv with dwindling ratings or stick them on the internet with less viewers willing or able to access them. Eventually someone is going to say the production costs aren't worth the returns in viewing figures and pull the plug.
Everything ends eventually and the soaps will be no different no matter how long it takes. I can't harbour under the illusion these shows will still be in existence for centuries to come when entire governments have risen and fallen in an instant. I can't imagine the world will stop turning just because Coronation Street and EastEnders are no more
”
I don't see them going internet based and probably couldn't be bothered if they did. Don't know about Eastenders or Emmerdale but I think Corrie will see it's 100th birthday. Probably soaps like Hollyoaks and the more minor programmes will be gone though
Originally Posted by Broken_Arrow:
“The soaps are losing viewers anyway. 10 years from now the ratings will undoubtedly be a fraction of what they are in 2014. I think maybe it's just inevitable that the soap genre will die off at some point. Keep them on tv with dwindling ratings or stick them on the internet with less viewers willing or able to access them. Eventually someone is going to say the production costs aren't worth the returns in viewing figures and pull the plug.
Everything ends eventually and the soaps will be no different no matter how long it takes. I can't harbour under the illusion these shows will still be in existence for centuries to come when entire governments have risen and fallen in an instant. I can't imagine the world will stop turning just because Coronation Street and EastEnders are no more”
“The soaps are losing viewers anyway. 10 years from now the ratings will undoubtedly be a fraction of what they are in 2014. I think maybe it's just inevitable that the soap genre will die off at some point. Keep them on tv with dwindling ratings or stick them on the internet with less viewers willing or able to access them. Eventually someone is going to say the production costs aren't worth the returns in viewing figures and pull the plug.
Everything ends eventually and the soaps will be no different no matter how long it takes. I can't harbour under the illusion these shows will still be in existence for centuries to come when entire governments have risen and fallen in an instant. I can't imagine the world will stop turning just because Coronation Street and EastEnders are no more
”
Posts like this are why your one of my favourite DS posters!
Soaps can and will die off. They've been slowly becoming irrelevant for years as the soap model is rooted in the 1960s era of close-knit communities, and the further away we get from that, the more irrelevant they'll become.
This might be blasphemy, but this is all perfectly natural and doesn't mean the soaps have done anything wrong.
This might be blasphemy, but this is all perfectly natural and doesn't mean the soaps have done anything wrong.
Originally Posted by David the Wavid:
“Soaps can and will die off. They've been slowly becoming irrelevant for years as the soap model is rooted in the 1960s era of close-knit communities, and the further away we get from that, the more irrelevant they'll become.
This might be blasphemy, but this is all perfectly natural and doesn't mean the soaps have done anything wrong.”
“Soaps can and will die off. They've been slowly becoming irrelevant for years as the soap model is rooted in the 1960s era of close-knit communities, and the further away we get from that, the more irrelevant they'll become.
This might be blasphemy, but this is all perfectly natural and doesn't mean the soaps have done anything wrong.”
This is the best and most sensible response to the thread and do you know which soap will stop being realistic first purely because of its location? Coronation St. The cobbles are already outdated while most of the back streets in Manchester have already been knocked down and rebuilt or are under going massive redevelopment. Corrie will need to address this eventually.
Originally Posted by David the Wavid:
“Soaps can and will die off. They've been slowly becoming irrelevant for years as the soap model is rooted in the 1960s era of close-knit communities, and the further away we get from that, the more irrelevant they'll become.
This might be blasphemy, but this is all perfectly natural and doesn't mean the soaps have done anything wrong.”
“Soaps can and will die off. They've been slowly becoming irrelevant for years as the soap model is rooted in the 1960s era of close-knit communities, and the further away we get from that, the more irrelevant they'll become.
This might be blasphemy, but this is all perfectly natural and doesn't mean the soaps have done anything wrong.”
I largely agree with this.I think theres something natural and inevitable about the soap genre diminishing in influence and grip on the nations imagination and affections.
I agree that the soaps dont HAVE to have done anything wrong for the genre to eventually diminish and whither.I do however believe that mistakes have speeded up an inevitable decline .
Some soap fans get very annoyed at the subject of the decline soaps as if they think your mainly blaming the decisions of soap bosses and ignoring the other inevitable factors at work.
A vicious cycle is created at times where soaps become more ott or unrealistic to attract ratings but this is experienced by many viewers as a decline in quality which makes them switch off long term.
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