Differences Between US and UK Television Shows

Differences between US and UK Television Shows
Television in the UK
Public television broadcasting started in the United Kingdom in 1936, and now has a collection of free and subscription services over a variety of distribution media, through which there are over 480 channels for consumers as well as on-demand content. There are six main channel owners who are responsible for most viewing. There are 27,000 hours of domestic content produced a year at a cost of 2.6 billion. Analogue terrestrial transmissions are currently being switched off and this is due to be completed in 2012. Free and subscription providers are available, with differences in the number of channels, capabilities such as the programme guide (EPG), video on demand (VOD), high-definition (HD), interactive television via the red button, and coverage across the UK. Set-top boxes are generally used to receive these services; however Integrated Digital Televisions (IDTVs) can also be used to receive Freeview or Freesat. Top Up TV and BT Vision utilise hybrid boxes which receive Freeview as well as additional subscription services. Households viewing TV from the internet (YouTube, Joost, downloads etc.) are not tracked by Ofcom. The UK's five most watched channels, BBC One, BBC Two, ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5, are available from all providers.
Most viewed channels

The Broadcasters' Audience Research Board (BARB) measures television ratings in the UK. The following table shows viewing shares from 1992 to 2009 of channels which have once had, or still have, a viewing share of 1.0%. The figures for 2010 only account for the weeks up until 14 November.[40] As of 2009, 15 channels have a viewing share of 1.0% together accounting for 67.4% of total viewing share. (4 additional channels had a viewing share 1.0% in 1992 but have since fallen below this). Of the 15 channels, 7 of these collectively had a viewing share of 79.3% in 1992, the largest of which was ITV with a share of 30.5%. As the number of channels rose and with the launch of digital television, the collective share of these channels had declined to 67.8% in 2002, and has remained at about that level ever since. ITV viewing share fell below BBC One in
2002; whist ITV viewing share declined, BBC One has remained stable at about 20% since 2001. Of these 15 channels, 4 are funded by the license fee; 2 are subscription; 7 of these channels launched after 1999. Comparing 1992 to 2009, only Channel4/S4C has seen an overall increase in viewing share.
Television in the US
Television is one of the major mass media of the United States. Ninety-nine percent of American households have at least one television and the majority of households have more than one. As a whole, the television networks of the United States are the largest and most syndicated in the world. In the United States television is available via broadcast ("over-the-air"), unencrypted satellite ("free-to-air"), direct broadcast satellite, cable television, and IPTV (internet protocol television). Over-the-air and free-to-air TV is free with no monthly payments while cable, direct broadcast satellite, and IPTV require a monthly payment that varies depending on how many channels a subscriber chooses to pay for. Channels are usually sold in groups, rather than singly.
Most Popular TV Networks

The five major U.S. networks are NBC, CBS, ABC, Fox, and The CW. The first three began as radio networks: NBC and CBS in the 1920s, and ABC was spun off from NBC in 1943. Fox is a relative newcomer that began in 1986, although it is built upon the remnants of the former DuMont Television Network, which was an earlier "fourth network" that operated from 1948 to 1956. The CW was created in 2006 when UPN merged with The WB. Weekday schedules on ABC, CBS and NBC affiliates tend to be similar, with programming choices sorted by dayparts (Fox does not air network programming outside of prime time other than weekend sports programming). Typically, they begin with an early-morning local news show, followed by a network morning show, such as NBC's Today, which mixes news, weather, interviews and music. Network daytime schedules consist of talk shows and soap operas, with one network (CBS) still carrying game shows and a handful of other games airing in syndication; local news may air at midday. Syndicated talk shows appear in the late afternoon, followed by local news again in the early evening.
Most Notable Differences
British TV has less "unwritten rules" about what's ok and what's not. Yes, children can die and pretty women can get killed as well. Something that rarely happens in U.S shows.
More realistic characters: To me it seems like British characters come across more realistically and believable than in some American shows. It's not so much about the acting but rather how a character is written. E.g. it's far more believable that a certain British TV show character might exist in real life than it would be for some US show characters. They have a tendency to the extremes.
More believable plots: U.S. shows tend to be very dramatic and up the stakes to increase the dramatic effect. The world is saves twice a week at least and the villains tend to always strive for the highest possible goals. In U.K. show however, things tend to be kept simpler. This might be partially due to budget constraints but it also adds a lair or "realism". Just compare a Series like Misfits with Heroes for example.
Story defines the length of a Season: For U.S. shows it seems you have the standard formula of either 13 or 22-24 episodes per season. This is probably due to how the TV show business works in America. However, U.K. shows seem to follow different rules and so a TV season can last anywhere from 4 to 24 episodes. In a way, the plot defines the length of a Season, rather than the industry.
Humor: While there are exceptions, I've found that even the most serious British TV show will contain a few one liners or quick jokes.

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Differences between US and UK Television Shows

Most viewed channels

Most Popular TV Networks

Most Notable Differences

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