Television — Season 1, Episode 6: The Story Machine

Episode synopsis

From news to fiction as the series moves behind the scenes to look at how some of the most popular drama series are produced, what they cost and how they came about. Hollywood is the home of most of the world's TV drama, but there is also a look at Japanese Samurai drama, Brazilian soap opera and Nigerian comedy. (Daily Telegraph)

About Television

Exhaustive 13-part survey of the television medium from its hesitant beginnings in the 1920s to the multi-million dollar extravaganzas of today and the cable and satellite technologies of the future [relative to 1985]. Tackling the medium as a worldwide phenomenon, the series examines each of the principal areas of programming - news, drama, documentaries, and light entertainment - and the unique impact of "live" coverage.

More episodes from Season 1

• E1Visions of Power
• E2The Race for Television
• E3We Bring You Live Pictures
• E4News Power
• E5News: The Power of Pictures
• E7Play Power
• E8The Rise and Fall of the Documentary
• E9Chewing Gum for the Eyes
• E10The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
• E11Canned Laughter
• E12The Selling of the President
• E13The Third Age of Broadcasting