TV: The rise of foreign-language television

1.
Subtitles used to be an element that could make you be seen as 'pretentious, dull and, possibly, a little odd'. As times move on, audiences have started to seek subtitles and are wanting to watch more foreign-language dramas.


2.
Walter suggests that the key appeal is his professional way of working where he would spend thousands and thousands of hours just watching foreign dramas. This leads to audiences feeling like he knows that he's doing.


3.
In the multi-screen age, we as audiences tend to get distracted by our phones with social media like Instagram or Snapchat but with subtitles, it forces us to focus on the drama and not get distracted by other things.


4.
The article also suggests that we as an audience 'develop a love for the distant world' which implies that we are taken out of reality and into the world of the drama. 'If you see something amazing set in Argentina, then Argentina itself, the houses, the people, what they wear, what their voices sound like, the language, is one of the biggest appeals. There is a huge pleasure in that' which could lead to the audience pleasure of diversion.


5.
Moffat included intertextual references in his shows like ones from Sherlock where he used a clue that could only be understood by Chinese audiences.


Film School Rejects: The foreign TV dramas you're missing out on:

1.
The show was released in the US before Germany.

2.
German figures started at 3.19 mil which then dropped to 1.63 mil at the last episode. Chanel 4's figures were at 2.13 mil at peak.

3.
Sundance TV and Freemantle Media announced the second season of the show which would be called Deutschland 86 in October.

4.
One of the aspects that probably helped was the large number of audiences that the show had.

5.
Walter uses social media platforms like twitter in order to interract with audience members all over the world to spread news about his work. He does things like posting a 'weekend pick' each week to involve audience memebers which allows him to stay relevant.


IndieWire: The rise of international television:

1.
Foreign TV dramas have found it difficult to find a market to access whereas foreign films have successfully found a niche audience.

2.
TV must have a specific aspect that enables them to attract domestic viewers. For example, in Prisoners of war, it is made to appeal to people who identify themselves as a 'prisoner to war'.

3.
D83 attracts both the UK audiences and the US audiences because of making these two audience groups feel something about the drama. For the UK viewers, the East shows a much more working class life which may be able to make UK audiences feel like they understand that side more and for the US, the West side is given more of an Americanised setting.

4.
Subtitles forces audiences to actually focus on the film instead of being distracted by anything.

5.
What matters to the audience is not language it is made in but more of the culture representations and cultural awareness.