TV Genre- Documentary

Some examples of TV Documentaries are:

• Making a Murderer
• An Idiot Abroad
• Ghost Hunters
• Top Gear
• Earth Story
• American Greed
• How Its Made
• The Crocodile Hunter
• Paranormal Witness
• 24 Hours in A&E

TV Documentaries are shown in a series. They have many episodes and sometimes many seasons. TV Documentaries are usually scheduled to be broadcast at different times depending on what type of genre it is. TV Docs like Top Gear, Ghost Hunters and An Idiot Abroad which appeal to a more mature audience will be broadcast later in the day, usually at night. TV Docs like The Crocodile Hunter and Earth Story which appeal to any age of audience will usually be broadcast through the day or in the morning. Usually in TV Docs there is not story to unfold as it goes on nor does it move closer to a resolution. TV Docs give information to the audience on the subject it is about. For example, The Crocodile Hunter will give the audience information on crocodiles and their habitats and Top Gear will give the audience information on cars and car parts. No stories are unfolded really, it is just a series of information given to you based on the subject.

TV Documentaries will appeal to the self-actualisation part of the Uses & Gratifications graph because it is the acceptance of facts. This is the least needed need in the Uses & Gratifications theory so it isn't as important to the audience as the other Uses & Gratifications. Another appeal to TV Docs is that they are unconventional. They do not follow a narrative and don't have any characters. They have real people doing real things and teach you about the subject the show is about. Another appeal to TV Docs is the people. There are usually famous people in TV Docs which will appeal to the audience. For example, Jeremy Clarkson on Top Gear would be an appeal. Also Ricky Gervais and Steven Merchant would be an appeal to An Idiot Abroad. Another appeal to TV Docs is the places shown in them. In the majority of TV Docs the audience will be shown another location that is different to their own, the  TV Doc will allow them to se other countries they've never seen or maybe heard of and see how their lives are similar or different.

The typical target audience for TV Documentaries are the