The Kings Of TV
When it comes to movies there is no question that America is the home of the silver screen. Hollywood has ruled the movie industry for decades now. And a large percentage of the most iconic films of all time are American productions. But what about TV? The precursor to the movie industry. And, for many people, the primary form of entertainment they consume. So which nation is the king of TV?
There is only one answer here. Britain. The original mechanical television was even created in Britain. In Soho in 1926. And despite the fact that the first electrical television was unveiled in America, Britain has consistently been producing the best content for the medium. Now we aren’t saying that other nations don’t produce quality TV entertainment. Breaking Bad, Seinfeld, Game Of Thrones. All of these iconic shows were born in America.
But Britain has always been the master of the art. You only need to look at how many British shows have received American remakes over the years. The Office, one of the most popular American TV shows ever made, was a remake of a British show. More often than not these American remakes fail to capture the world’s attention quite like the originals. And this is because they are often missing that thing that makes British shows so good.
British Wit
Britain has always been famous for its sense of humour. No one quite does comedy like the brits. It is why British comedy shows have always been the most popular. British TV shows are also often far more grounded in reality. Able to deftly play on very relatable situations while also adding a strong sense of whimsy to it all. The IT crowd is a great example of this. It was a witty examination of early 2000’s nerd culture done in a much more palatable way than The Big Bang Theory.
Less Is More
The budget of the average British TV show is often considerably less than American shows. But this has often worked in their favour as it forces the show to rely on quality writing and acting as opposed to flashy special effects or grandiose sets. Doctor Who, the longest running Sci-fi show in history, is a prime example of this. When it first aired it had a barebones budget. Using tinfoil and toilet plungers to create terrifying aliens. And the show took the world by storm and redefined the entire genre.
Fawlty Towers is another good example of this. The show has a limited cast and only a few sets. And it is still considered one of the most influential comedy shows ever. Many of the most popular American comedies take direct inspiration from the British comedic sitcoms of old.
Streaming Platform Fatigue
Netflix launched its streaming service way back in 2007. And it didn’t take long for the entire entertainment industry to warp around this idea. Netflix quickly began to dominate the industry. Even going so far as to create their own original shows and movies.
Fast forward to today and many people are growing exhausted with streaming services. The original idea behind these platforms was to allow viewers to escape the adverts associated with traditional TV cable packages. Providing a huge catalogue of content, ad free, for one subscription fee. But now most streaming services force ads upon you unless you pay a premium. And with so many different platforms in competition it has become too expensive to watch everything.
But Britain has remained oddly loyal to the traditional TV format. With most British shows not being produced for streaming platforms. And this has ensured that the quality of the shows is maintained. Which is why IPTV subscriptions have been rising steadily in recent years. Especially since a lot of streaming services have now done away with free trials. While there are lists filled to the brim with the newest ranked free global IPTV trials.
Britain also produces a lot of shows that will likely never make it onto traditional streaming platforms. Gameshows, quizzes, small-scale sitcoms, parody shows. Streaming services like Netflix are more intent on finding shows that will generate a lot of hype on social media. And this means that a lot of other countries are focusing on producing TV shows that are devoid of any actual soul.
And I think this sits at the heart of why Britain consistently makes the best TV. Art and entertainment has always been a huge aspect of British culture. And, as such, artistic integrity has remained a cornerstone of the country’s entertainment exports. With a vast majority of British TV shows, the art is never sacrificed for mass market appeal.