My name is Adam Howard, and this website is a contribution to my A level Media Studies coursework. The main aim is to make an introductory trailer for a soap opera of my own. In order to do this successfully, I have to know the conventions of a soap and what makes a soap popular, so that my trailer can fit those conventions as well.
British soap opera's are the cornerstone of British T.V. A "soap" tends not to focus on the glamorous and wealthy side to every day life, but more on the gritty, hard-hitting stories that the majority can relate to. Eastenders for example, focuses on the poorer working class that inhabit London's east end, rather than the well-off business men in the centre of London. Coronation Street tackles the Northern stereotypes of fast-talking and aggressive people. Soap opera's are unglamorous and can frankly be quite depressing, yet they still attract millions of viewers every week, viewers who can relate to the issues being tackled during the show. Soap opera's tend to be built around cliff hangers and climaxes. A story could start on the Monday and come to a climax on the Friday, ensuring the audience stays anticipant throughout the week.
Soap Opera's, in Britain especially, are among the most popular programmes on T.V. with both Coronation Street and Eastenders constantly being among the top 10 most watched programmes a week (according to audience viewing figures website BARB). Coronation Street tends to draw generally be the most watched programme on television. Due to this popularity, soaps tend to be run during prime time on the different channels. Broadcasting the soaps during prime time ensures it will reach the largest audience possible.
