http://forums.asiaone.com/showthread.php?t=33854
Low ratings for local dramas
Viewers say the lack of variety, unrealistic dialogue and similar plots turn them off.
Is local TV drama in dire straits?
Even Singapore's original TV First Couple, Huang Wenyong and Xiang Yun, cannot prevent current MediaCorp Channel 8 drama series, The Score, from, well, failing to score good ratings.
In fact, it might even have less than half the number of viewers a top-rated local drama gets.
Chinese daily Lianhe Zaobao recently reported that The Score has a viewership rating of between 10 and 11 per cent since it debuted in the traditional prime time slot of 9pm on Oct 4. On some nights, the rating even fell to a single digit. The series, a soap opera *** crime drama, will end next Friday.
In 2007, Like Father Like Daughter, a popular Channel 8 drama in the same time slot, achieved 20.5 per cent in ratings. The Little Nyonya, MediaCorp's most-watched series in the last eight years, chalked up a rating of about 26.3 per cent, or about 934,000 viewers.
One percentage point is equivalent to 1 per cent of all TV households in Singapore.
A MediaCorp spokesman responded to Life!'s queries, saying: 'The average reach of The Score is 14.3 per cent.'
However, she did not refute the lowest-rating figure of a single digit, as reported in the Chinese paper.
The Score's poor showing may not be an exception. Earlier this year, Korean drama Cruel Temptation, which ended its run on Channel U recently, dealt a ratings blow to Channel 8's home-grown production, the family drama Your Hand In Mine. The 94-episode drama became the first Korean series to beat a local production showing in the same time slot on Channel 8.
The poor ratings do not surprise some viewers who have stopped watching Channel 8 dramas.
Customer service manager Eva Siow, 30, says: 'Local scriptwriters and producers lack creativity. The plots of many Channel 8 drama series are very similar and sometimes I can't even tell them apart.'
Lianhe Wanbao entertainment journalist Tan Chew Yen agrees. She says: 'The main problem with local dramas is their lack of variety. All year round, we get regular doses of family drama.'
Account executive Ken Kuan, 28, says he and his family have not followed a Channel 8 drama since they subscribed to cable TV more than five years ago.
His biggest bugbear is the 'unrealistic dialogue' in local dramas. 'Who talks like that in real life? I cringe every time I switch to Channel 8.'
Life!'s Asian TV reviewer Foong Woei Wan elaborates on this shortcoming in local drama scripting. 'With some Channel 8 dramas, you don't get a sense of the complex, multilingual reality of Singapore,' she says. 'In the Zoe Tay housewife drama La Femme, you have people saying 'songbing' and not 'muffin'. Who says 'songbing'?
'It's more believable to have characters who can discuss important dramatic stuff in Mandarin, but who would still say 'muffin'. But as it is, some dramas seem to take place in some strange parallel universe.'
She compares the situation here to Hong Kong, where TV scriptwriters have no qualms about using English buzzwords to add a dose of reality to the lines.
While retail supervisor Chen Wenxin, 38, says he watches Channel 8 dramas, he notices 'the TV company seems to like to promote the good-looking actors, rather than the experienced ones'.
The result, he says, is mediocre acting dished out by 'the newbies'.
This also bugs Ms Foong, who misses former TV thespians such as Xie Shaoguang, 'who are charismatic actors capable of filling up the screen on their own'.
Consultant Wayne Weng, 29, says he watches local dramas, but only some of those shown on Channel U, as 'they usually have better cinematography and direction and are more innovative as well'.
He was referring to recent Channel U shows such as The Illusionist, which aired in March and starred Thomas Ong.
Despite the recent spate of poor ratings, Channel 8 dramas still have their regular supporters.
Retiree Wee Siew Eng, 60, says she enjoyed Ann Kok's portrayal of an abused wife in The Family Court, which aired just before The Score.
'She is pretty and acts well. If we don't watch local shows, who will?'
Despite his grouses, Mr Chen will also continue to watch Channel 8 dramas - out of necessity.
'The cost of living is already high enough, so I don't want to spend more money on cable TV subscription. Besides, Channel 8 dramas can be rather entertaining in terms of how bad they can be.'
No wonder the people who work there get so little bonus. Local TV is just getting from bad to worse. I've not tuned in to a local production for..erm, more than a year?
Low ratings for local dramas
Viewers say the lack of variety, unrealistic dialogue and similar plots turn them off.
Is local TV drama in dire straits?
Even Singapore's original TV First Couple, Huang Wenyong and Xiang Yun, cannot prevent current MediaCorp Channel 8 drama series, The Score, from, well, failing to score good ratings.
In fact, it might even have less than half the number of viewers a top-rated local drama gets.
Chinese daily Lianhe Zaobao recently reported that The Score has a viewership rating of between 10 and 11 per cent since it debuted in the traditional prime time slot of 9pm on Oct 4. On some nights, the rating even fell to a single digit. The series, a soap opera *** crime drama, will end next Friday.
In 2007, Like Father Like Daughter, a popular Channel 8 drama in the same time slot, achieved 20.5 per cent in ratings. The Little Nyonya, MediaCorp's most-watched series in the last eight years, chalked up a rating of about 26.3 per cent, or about 934,000 viewers.
One percentage point is equivalent to 1 per cent of all TV households in Singapore.
A MediaCorp spokesman responded to Life!'s queries, saying: 'The average reach of The Score is 14.3 per cent.'
However, she did not refute the lowest-rating figure of a single digit, as reported in the Chinese paper.
The Score's poor showing may not be an exception. Earlier this year, Korean drama Cruel Temptation, which ended its run on Channel U recently, dealt a ratings blow to Channel 8's home-grown production, the family drama Your Hand In Mine. The 94-episode drama became the first Korean series to beat a local production showing in the same time slot on Channel 8.
The poor ratings do not surprise some viewers who have stopped watching Channel 8 dramas.
Customer service manager Eva Siow, 30, says: 'Local scriptwriters and producers lack creativity. The plots of many Channel 8 drama series are very similar and sometimes I can't even tell them apart.'
Lianhe Wanbao entertainment journalist Tan Chew Yen agrees. She says: 'The main problem with local dramas is their lack of variety. All year round, we get regular doses of family drama.'
Account executive Ken Kuan, 28, says he and his family have not followed a Channel 8 drama since they subscribed to cable TV more than five years ago.
His biggest bugbear is the 'unrealistic dialogue' in local dramas. 'Who talks like that in real life? I cringe every time I switch to Channel 8.'
Life!'s Asian TV reviewer Foong Woei Wan elaborates on this shortcoming in local drama scripting. 'With some Channel 8 dramas, you don't get a sense of the complex, multilingual reality of Singapore,' she says. 'In the Zoe Tay housewife drama La Femme, you have people saying 'songbing' and not 'muffin'. Who says 'songbing'?
'It's more believable to have characters who can discuss important dramatic stuff in Mandarin, but who would still say 'muffin'. But as it is, some dramas seem to take place in some strange parallel universe.'
She compares the situation here to Hong Kong, where TV scriptwriters have no qualms about using English buzzwords to add a dose of reality to the lines.
While retail supervisor Chen Wenxin, 38, says he watches Channel 8 dramas, he notices 'the TV company seems to like to promote the good-looking actors, rather than the experienced ones'.
The result, he says, is mediocre acting dished out by 'the newbies'.
This also bugs Ms Foong, who misses former TV thespians such as Xie Shaoguang, 'who are charismatic actors capable of filling up the screen on their own'.
Consultant Wayne Weng, 29, says he watches local dramas, but only some of those shown on Channel U, as 'they usually have better cinematography and direction and are more innovative as well'.
He was referring to recent Channel U shows such as The Illusionist, which aired in March and starred Thomas Ong.
Despite the recent spate of poor ratings, Channel 8 dramas still have their regular supporters.
Retiree Wee Siew Eng, 60, says she enjoyed Ann Kok's portrayal of an abused wife in The Family Court, which aired just before The Score.
'She is pretty and acts well. If we don't watch local shows, who will?'
Despite his grouses, Mr Chen will also continue to watch Channel 8 dramas - out of necessity.
'The cost of living is already high enough, so I don't want to spend more money on cable TV subscription. Besides, Channel 8 dramas can be rather entertaining in terms of how bad they can be.'
No wonder the people who work there get so little bonus. Local TV is just getting from bad to worse. I've not tuned in to a local production for..erm, more than a year?
No matter do how good also will have people complain
