Research of Soap Opera Trailers on TV

To produce higher ratings, inform the audience of the soap opera and advertise specific episodes, broadcasters selectively choose a specific time slot on certain channels to air their trailer so that it will reach their target audience. To do this, the programme that the commercial is broadcasted during should reflect the same demographic groupings as the soap opera being advertised. This will also inform me what is included in a typical soap opera trailer according to which time it's broadcasted (before or after the watershed), such as atmosphere, themes and language.

Here are the times of some soap opera trailers I noted including which channel they were broadcasted, as well as which shows between, which day and what time:


Saturday, 8pm - EastEnders trailer.
After Dr. Who (BB1)

The demographic groups of the target audiences of both EastEnders and Dr. Who are the same, including groups B, C1, C2, D and E. The timing of the trailer is also the time that the soap opera is normally broadcasted and so this slot is ideal for reaching the target audience. As it was before the watershed, the was no strong language or disturbing scenes, also following the nature of EastEnder's episodes.


Saturday, 10pm - EastEnders trailer.
After the 10 o'clock news (BB1)
Unlike the previous trailer, this EastEnder's trailer was broadcasted after the watershed and therefore was a bit more sinister and adverftised a more serious plot. The news before this trailer also uses more sensitive themes and is aimed at demographic groups A and below, ensuring that the trailer will reach it's target audience without exposing young children to the mature themes being advertised.



Saturday, 10.45pm - Hollyoaks trailer.
During 'the Inbetweeners Countdown' (E4)
In particular, this Hollyoaks trailer was for a special series called 'Hollyoaks Later' containing more adult themes, nudity and strong language. Therefore, it was broadcasted after the watershed and between episodes of The Inbetweeners, a mature show for teenagers and adults or demographic groups B and below. This makes it a suitable time for a Hollyoaks Later trailer as it would reach their target audience.

Wednesday, 3pm - Emmerdale trailer.
Before Midsummer Murders (ITV1)
The final trailer I noted was a trailer for Emmerdale before Midsummer Murders which has a similar target audience, mostly however the older generation and elderly or demographic groups B to E. However, the afternoon broadcasting before the watershed limits the audience reached as most people work or are in education during the day, specifically those in demographic groups B to D. It also implies that there is no strong language, distressing or disturbing themes features int he trailer. If we were to broadcast our soap opera trailer at this this, it most likely would not reach our target audience.


This information has helped me understand what content is suitable for a trailer broadcasted before and after the watershed - for example the themes and level of nudity or severity of language. Since our soap opera will be aimed at both sexes, demographic groups B to E and is a new soap opera, it will fit best with the timing of EastEnder's trailers as they both share the same target audience. If we decided to create an edgier trailer with more controversial topics, we would broadcast if after the watershed to avoid younger audiences from viewing certain content.