Audiences

Why people watch soap operas/Audiences

Unlike most other television programmes soap operas portray scenes and events that we can all relate too. We see the actors washing up or cleaning and we are presented with dysfunctional families, and witness the same family and friend arguments and disputes, which often reflect what is happening around us. Furthermore, the soap characters are subjected to the same highs and lows that we experience in our own lives, which include money problems and money problems, making the soap relatable to the audience. It is this realism that creates within us an understanding with the soap character, where we empathise with their predicament and share in their joys and sorrows.

One of the main reasons soap operas are addicting has to do with the story lines. They evolve over time, so something you watched years ago could still affect the characters now. Enemies become friends and then 'frenemies', and viewers stay to their screens, just to see the next evolution of a particular plot line.

Soap opera families are more recognizable than mafia families, and their dramas are serious.

The other enticing aspect of soap operas for the viewer is their realism. 

We created a questionnaire to distinguish the audiences of soaps. We asked a total of 30 people and below are our results:

After we collected our results, it was apparent that more females watch soap operas compared to males and the soaps appealed to a more younger audience of 14 - 20 year olds. Following that statistic, it was apparent that Coronation Street and EastEnders were the most favourable and they would be watched on a regular basis, between every day they are aired and once a week.