Blog #1- Resurrecting the Telenovela

Is the telenovela dying?

Regardless of age or culture or gender, all media professionals are dealing with the same problem: how do we keep audiences engaged as technology advances? In the last couple of years, one of the larger changes in technology is how broadcasting is shifting to content production with streaming services.

The telenovela is no exception to this engagement obstacle. We see this even in Dr. A’s story about asking the panel about engagement and all the panel speakers agreeing with how important this idea has become to the success of their telenovelas. Streaming platforms like Netflix are causing audiences to crave more crime-related, more realistic dramas according to the article “The Telenovela Is on Its Deathbed, Felled by Netflix”.

So how do we resurrect the telenovela?

Based on the article, we see the answer is research! As Grady College students we all know the importance of research; research is now what is breathing life back into the telenovela for new and old audiences alike. Based on research mentioned in this article we see that moving the time slot even thirty minutes earlier helped increase audience engagement. We also see that once the audience watched three full episodes, they were hooked. This evidence caused producers to prioritize the first three episodes and keep the telenovela’s audience engaged. As technology advances, the audience changes and so research is the only way to keep media adapting to the medium they are shown through like Netflix and Amazon Prime and other streaming services.

When deciding which telenovela to do my semester analysis on, I was surprised by the lack of telenovelas on Netflix. However, I expect more telenovelas to be added as Netflix produces more and more original content. In the future, I would expect Netflix to partner with telenovela writers to have authors write stories available exclusively on Netflix.

While I don’t think Netflix original telenovelas are a bad idea, I am curious to see how writers have to overcome the new obstacle presented by streaming services: binge watching. One of the greatest appeals, and distinguishing traits of a telenovela is the cliffhanger at the end of each episode. If the audience can simply watch the next episode instantly, the show loses some of the generated excitement if they had to wait in between episodes. 

I think releasing content seasons at a time (the popular method of releasing Netflix originals) is just another technological adaptation that telenovela writers will have to adapt too. My suggestion to keep audience engaged is to use social media to generate fan theories and general excitement about the show until it is known in pop culture. I think with Instagram stories there could be polls about the next twist and turn or even just voting who the audience supports in a love triangle to see who is the “fan favorite”. Social media platforms like Instagram also have instant translating options that would be help for global shows like telenovelas so that new audiences are engaged without losing the old audience.

So is the telenovela dying? No, I think it is adapting. But only time will tell how telenovelas once again creatively prevail through media as technology and culture change around it.