Observed (Hypothesized) Differences
Between U.S and British Media

TV: British media have…

FORM:

• Fewer channels
• No local stations
• MORE? or LESS? programs from other countries (specifically U.S.)
• Fewer breaks for ads/etc. during movies/programs (BBC has no ads)
• More ads that are short
• More off-hour and half-hour starting times and odd durations
• More very short station promos (Channel 5's 'rainbow strip'; ITV's channel id).
• Station id logos used less, more often in upper corners, more subtle
• Fewer graphics
• Fewer split screens
• Lower quality production values
• Series/programs with fewer episodes
• Fewer indications of live programming

CONTENT:

• More nudity
• Less violence (except in U.S. films where it's more explicit)
• More 'bad' language
• More 'drama' content
• More 'mystery' content
• Different versions of music videos for same songs
• Less enthusiastic contestants on talk and game shows
• More 'boring' content (because of more public tv)
• MORE? or LESS? informality in news presentations (e.g., sitting at edge of desk but less happy talk)
• More coverage of 'serious' political stories in news
• More people whose physical attractiveness is average or 'normal'
• Ads that are MORE? or LESS? creative and explicit re: product being sold
• Ads that contain more explicit references/portrayals of sexuality
• 'TV DJs' (audio only) to introduce next programs

Film: British media have…

FORM:

• More U.S. films than U.S. has British films

CONTENT:

• More serious/intense topics/treatments

Radio: British media have…

FORM:

• More stations
• More stations in lower part of frequency spectrum
• More talking over songs

CONTENT:

• More 'boring' content (because of more public radio)
• More amateur/lower quality disk jockey performance

Print: British media have…

FORM:

• Few local newspapers
• Larger, bolder headlines
• Magazines that emphasize the visual
• 'Newsies' who call out headlines

CONTENT:

• News stories that emphasize the political (vs. social in U.S. )
• More 'bad' language

Web: British media have…

FORM:

• Fewer sites [due to cost per minute vs. flat fee]

The Differences Collapsed into General Categories

FORM:

• Number of 'channels'
• Local vs. national 'channels'
• National vs. international material
• Duration of parts of presentation (e.g., programs, ads, promos, articles, number of episodes,etc.)
• Technical quality (production values)
• Clutter (e.g., use of graphics, id logos, split screens, editing pace, talking over songs)
• Presence (e.g., indications of live programming, use of direct address, informality, clutter)

CONTENT:

• Amount of nudity/sex
• Amount of violence
• Amount of 'bad language'
• Amount of serious (political) vs. less serious (political or social) news coverage
• Physical attractiveness of people shown
• Genres (e.g., mystery, drama)
• Amount of interesting/uninteresting (i.e., 'boring') content
• Creativity (as in ads)
• Informality (e.g., TV D.J.s, TV news)
• Themes/stories (more specific than genre - e.g., which social issues in dramas/comedies)
• Type of personalities (e.g., enthusiasm of contestants, characteristics of big stars)
• Type of fictional characters (e.g., characteristics of heroes, villains, etc.)