The Evolution of Television Macrogenres in the Schedules of Traditional Broadcasters in Spain (2011–2023)

Abstract

This paper analyses the evolution of the information, fiction and entertainment macro-genres in the schedules of La 1, Antena 3 and Telecinco from 2011 to 2023. It is based on the following hypothesis: since 2015, the schedules of free-to-air television channels have progressively given priority to non-fiction content due to the majority presence of the fiction macro-genre in US SVODs, whose offerings have multiplied in the Spanish market since then. By applying a coding tool for macro-genres and television genres, created ad hoc, a substantial decrease in fiction over the years is perceived. The results validate the hypothesis, as the fiction macro-genre drops from an average of 27.5% (2011-12 season) to 19.8% (2022-23), while other studies confirm the commitment to fiction in SVOD services. Likewise, in the selected sample, series and feature films are even more reduced in prime time, due to the large offer of these genres in the SVOD services, which reach their maximum audience in the same night slot. However, other explanatory variables such as the emergence of competitors other than SVOD services, advertising investment, with its decline after the pandemic caused by COVID-19, and the configuration of audiences are also taken into account to understand the changes in the supply of content in traditional TV schedules.