Emmerdale is broadcast by ITV and run for approximately 22 minutes excluding advertisement breaks. It is broadcast weekdays at 7-7.30pm with and extra episode on Thursday, 8-8.30pm. Since its first episode in 1989 there have been around 5850 episodes of Emmerdale in total, capturing a wide and loyal audience. Emmerdale’s highest ever viewing figures occurred in December 1993 when 18 million viewers tuned in to see a plane crash into the village killing four characters. During their high profile storylines Emmerdales viewing figure reach anything from a lowest of 6.09 million viewer’s to high of 10 million viewers. However, since other soap operas such as Eastenders and Hollyoaks have begun Emmerdale viewing figures during high profile storylines have dropped as opposed to their original hits of ten or twelve million. Emmerdale is currently sponsored by Tombola Bingo, an online bingo site, it has been sponsored by other famous brands such as Heinz salad cream, Lemsip and Calgon.
Coronation street is also broadcast by ITV and on 17th September 2010 celebrated becoming Britain’s longest ever running Soap Opera. Same as the Emmerdale format the soap is broadcast for 22 minutes excluding advertisement breaks yet runs on different days – twice on a Monday, on a Thursday and a Friday. Since the first episode in 1960 there have been approximately 7660 episodes to be broadcast in the UK, watched by a vast range of people and generations. Coronation Streets highest viewing figure to date occurred in 1987 when 28.5 million viewers tuned in to see character Hilda Ogden leave the street, at the time this was equal to almost half of Britain’s population. On average now Coronation Street attracts at least 8 million viewers, peaking to 14 million during a high profile storyline. Coronation Street is in constant battle with BBC soap Eastenders for first place in rating yet both soap operas are announced Britain’s most watched shows. Coronation Street has only ever had two sponsors, Cadburys which sponsored the soap until 2007 and Harveys, a sponsorship that it still on-going.
Eastenders is broadcast by the BBC and runs for 27 minutes, unlike Emmerdale and Coronation Street the BBC do not use advert break as they are funded by the government. Eastenders is currently broadcast on a Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday in Britain and has almost reached its 4200th episode since it began in 1985. As previously mentioned, Eastenders is locked in a constant rating battle with Coronation Street yet both remain amicable with each other, working television schedules around each other best they can to ensure high rating figures. Eastenders made ratings history when 31.5 million viewers tuned in over Christmas 1986 to watch character Den Watts divorce his wife Angie, this is the highest viewing figure for a soap opera in British history. On average Eastenders now hold rating of approximately 6-8 million viewers, reaching highs of twelve during prolific storylines. During 2004 Eastenders saw a dramatic drop in ratings reaching lows of 4 million, similar to this was there decrease in 2007 which again reached lows of 4 million. As Eastenders are funded by the government watershed rules are stricter and content and realism with storyline is watched carefully and no sponsorship is needed.
Hollyoaks is Britain’s newest popular soap, being shown weekdays at 6.30 it has nearly reached its 3050th episode. Unique to Hollyoaks is its regular use of incidental music to bridge together scenes or enhance atmosphere during certain storylines. Hollyoaks attracts an audience’s of around 1.5-5 million viewers, attracting more of a youthful generation that other soap operas. Hollyoaks is currently sponsored by Nixon Coolpix, a sponsor that has returned to them after an increase in sales through sponsoring the soap.
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