Micro-series
Encyclopedia
A micro-series is a very short episodic
television program
ming
narrative sponsored by an advertiser. This is a non-traditional way of reaching primary markets. A micro-series is intended to promote a product while engaging viewers with entertaining content. These episodes are generally two to three minutes long and often run during commercial breaks of popular television programs. After each air date, they are also available online and on mobile devices.
.
Sometimes a spin-off
micro-series is created from a popular TV show, for example, NBC
's prime-time hit, Heroes
. In November 2008, Sprint Nextel
sponsored a four-episode micro-series called Heroes: Destiny on mobile, online and television. Each five to seven minute episode debuted on Monday nights. The micro-series featured Sprint's phone in some scenes in what David Lang, head of MindShare Entertainment, calls "subtle integration." Sprint ads also aired adjacent to the on-air promos.
It is important that the micro-series content fits the environment or theme of the program in which it airs. A good example of this is TBS's micro-series Commuter Confidential. In 2008, TBS debuted a two minute episode of Commuter Confidential featuring Revlon
products and Match.com
, during Sex and the City
. The micro-series plotline mirrors the comedy of the HBO produced Sex and the City. Confidential features four female characters and their diverse ways of dealing with the world around them.
With the advent of the digital video recording (DVR
), advertisers are trying to create brand messages that defeat the fast-forward button. General Motors
is sponsoring a five part microseries, My Manny on Turner Broadcasting's TBS to highlight the features on its new Traverse Crossover vehicle. It airs during the original series Tyler Perry's House of Payne
.
With the success of the My Manny series – now in its third season – General Motors sponsored a new series, Gillian in Georgia
, which aired on TBS in the spring of 2010. The show stars Jill Marie Jones of Girlfriends fame and centers around a hip New Yorker who comes to the South to live with her sister’s family. The show airs during TBS’ popular sitcom Meet the Browns
.
Unilever
, too has gotten into the micro-series action. Singer Alicia Keys
was selected by Dove
and MTV
to star in their "real beauty" micro-series called Fresh Takes. The series revolves around a group of twentysomething females and the pressures they must overcome in order to pursue their dreams. Each mini series aired as a commercial intersitials during the March 24, 2008 premiere of The Hills
. The micro-series is intended to promote the new Dove products while confronting the issues of the self-esteem.
Sometimes a micro-series may turn into a half-hour television sitcom, as in the case of In the Motherhood
, a series of online shorts about moms coping with their chaotic lives—with help from Spring Nextel services and Suave
hair care products. This micro-series just got picked up for the midseason lineup on ABC
. It will anchor a new comedy block on Thursdays, one of the most competitive nights of TV.
Episodic
Episodic can refer to* The nature of television series that are divided into short programs. See Episode* Episodic memory relates to the types of memory that result from specific incidents in a lifetime...
television program
Television program
A television program , also called television show, is a segment of content which is intended to be broadcast on television. It may be a one-time production or part of a periodically recurring series...
ming
narrative sponsored by an advertiser. This is a non-traditional way of reaching primary markets. A micro-series is intended to promote a product while engaging viewers with entertaining content. These episodes are generally two to three minutes long and often run during commercial breaks of popular television programs. After each air date, they are also available online and on mobile devices.
Popular Micro-Series
Even if it doesn't have a wide audience, a micro-series creates buzz, especially if it is interactive, as in the case of CBS's 2006 microseries The CourierThe Courier (micro-series)
The Courier is an advertiser sponsored, week-long micro-series debuted in 2006 on CBS, during the first act break of CSI: Miami. The premiere is a sixty second installment followed by forty second editions...
.
Sometimes a spin-off
Spin-off (media)
In media, a spin-off is a radio program, television program, video game, or any narrative work, derived from one or more already existing works, that focuses, in particular, in more detail on one aspect of that original work...
micro-series is created from a popular TV show, for example, NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
's prime-time hit, Heroes
Heroes (TV series)
Heroes is an American science fiction television drama series created by Tim Kring that appeared on NBC for four seasons from September 25, 2006 through February 8, 2010. The series tells the stories of ordinary people who discover superhuman abilities, and how these abilities take effect in the...
. In November 2008, Sprint Nextel
Sprint Nextel
Sprint Nextel Corporation is an American telecommunications company based in Overland Park, Kansas. The company owns and operates Sprint, the third largest wireless telecommunications network in the United States, with 53.4 million customers, behind Verizon Wireless and AT&T Mobility...
sponsored a four-episode micro-series called Heroes: Destiny on mobile, online and television. Each five to seven minute episode debuted on Monday nights. The micro-series featured Sprint's phone in some scenes in what David Lang, head of MindShare Entertainment, calls "subtle integration." Sprint ads also aired adjacent to the on-air promos.
It is important that the micro-series content fits the environment or theme of the program in which it airs. A good example of this is TBS's micro-series Commuter Confidential. In 2008, TBS debuted a two minute episode of Commuter Confidential featuring Revlon
Revlon
Revlon is an American cosmetics, skin care, fragrance, and personal care company founded in 1932.-History:Revlon was founded in the midst of the Great Depression, 1932, by Charles Revson and his brother Joseph, along with a chemist, Charles Lachman, who contributed the "L" in the Revlon name...
products and Match.com
Match.com
Match.com is an online dating company which reportedly has more than 20 million members, made up of a 49/51 male/female ratio, and Web sites serving 25 countries in more than 8 different languages. Its headquarters are in Dallas, Texas and the company also has offices in West Hollywood, Tokyo, Rio,...
, during Sex and the City
Sex and the City
Sex and the City is an American television comedy-drama series created by Darren Star and produced by HBO. Broadcast from 1998 until 2004, the original run of the show had a total of ninety-four episodes...
. The micro-series plotline mirrors the comedy of the HBO produced Sex and the City. Confidential features four female characters and their diverse ways of dealing with the world around them.
With the advent of the digital video recording (DVR
Digital video recorder
A digital video recorder , sometimes referred to by the merchandising term personal video recorder , is a consumer electronics device or application software that records video in a digital format to a disk drive, USB flash drive, SD memory card or other local or networked mass storage device...
), advertisers are trying to create brand messages that defeat the fast-forward button. General Motors
General Motors
General Motors Company , commonly known as GM, formerly incorporated as General Motors Corporation, is an American multinational automotive corporation headquartered in Detroit, Michigan and the world's second-largest automaker in 2010...
is sponsoring a five part microseries, My Manny on Turner Broadcasting's TBS to highlight the features on its new Traverse Crossover vehicle. It airs during the original series Tyler Perry's House of Payne
Tyler Perry's House of Payne
Tyler Perry's House of Payne is an American comedy-drama television series created and produced by playwright, director, and producer Tyler Perry. The show revolves around a multi-generational family living under one roof in Atlanta, Georgia led by patriarch Curtis Payne and his wife Ella...
.
With the success of the My Manny series – now in its third season – General Motors sponsored a new series, Gillian in Georgia
Gillian in Georgia
Gillian in Georgia is a U.S. television sitcom micro-series created and produced by Jenna Milly and Angela Barnes Gomes. The show is about Gillian, a hip New Yorker, who comes to the South to live with her sister's family. The show premiered on April 28, 2010 on TBS. The show stars Jill Marie...
, which aired on TBS in the spring of 2010. The show stars Jill Marie Jones of Girlfriends fame and centers around a hip New Yorker who comes to the South to live with her sister’s family. The show airs during TBS’ popular sitcom Meet the Browns
Meet the Browns (TV series)
Tyler Perry's Meet the Browns is an American sitcom created and produced by playwright, director, and producer Tyler Perry. The show revolves around a senior family living under one roof in Decatur, Georgia led by patriarch Mr. Brown and his daughter Cora Simmons. The show premiered on Wednesday,...
.
Unilever
Unilever
Unilever is a British-Dutch multinational corporation that owns many of the world's consumer product brands in foods, beverages, cleaning agents and personal care products....
, too has gotten into the micro-series action. Singer Alicia Keys
Alicia Keys
Alicia Augello Cook , better known by her stage name Alicia Keys, is an American singer-songwriter, record producer, and occasional actress. She was raised by a single mother in the Hell's Kitchen area of Manhattan in New York City. At age seven, Keys began playing the piano...
was selected by Dove
Dove
Pigeons and doves constitute the bird family Columbidae within the order Columbiformes, which include some 300 species of near passerines. In general terms "dove" and "pigeon" are used somewhat interchangeably...
and MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
to star in their "real beauty" micro-series called Fresh Takes. The series revolves around a group of twentysomething females and the pressures they must overcome in order to pursue their dreams. Each mini series aired as a commercial intersitials during the March 24, 2008 premiere of The Hills
The Hills
The Hills is a reality television series which originally aired on MTV from May 31, 2006 until July 13, 2010. The show uses a reality television format, following the personal lives of several young adults living in Los Angeles, California, but tends towards a narrative format more commonly found...
. The micro-series is intended to promote the new Dove products while confronting the issues of the self-esteem.
Sometimes a micro-series may turn into a half-hour television sitcom, as in the case of In the Motherhood
In the Motherhood
In the Motherhood is an American television sitcom that debuted on ABC as a midseason entry and ran from March 26, 2009 to June 25, 2009. The series was produced by ABC Studios in association with Cabloom! and Mindshare.-Plot:...
, a series of online shorts about moms coping with their chaotic lives—with help from Spring Nextel services and Suave
Suave
Suave is a brand name based in Chicago, IL used by the Unilever company in the United States, Argentina, Mexico and Canada. Targeting discount stores, the brand represents more than 100 products including shampoo, lotions, soaps and deodorant....
hair care products. This micro-series just got picked up for the midseason lineup on ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
. It will anchor a new comedy block on Thursdays, one of the most competitive nights of TV.