INTERVIEW: Michael Apted on how the documentary has suffered at the 2012 Dubai International Film Festival: Michael Apte

The transcript discusses the decline of documentaries in American television due to the rise of entertainment-focused news, exemplified by Fox News. It highlights the economic challenges of attracting large audiences to documentaries. However, it notes that documentaries have fared better in the UK due to a strong historical tradition, resulting in higher quality productions compared to the US.

What transformation did news undergo in America according to the speaker?

• News focused more on international affairs.

• News became less accessible.

• News turned into entertainment.

• News became more factual.

Why do documentaries face economic challenges according to the speaker?

• They are not supported by advertisers.

• They are too expensive to produce.

• They often do not attract large audiences.

• They require special broadcasting equipment.

What is one way documentaries are altered to attract larger audiences?

• By making them more entertaining.

• By adding fictional elements.

• By focusing on local issues.

• By shortening their length.

What is a reason for the stronger presence of documentaries in British television?

• A deep-rooted history of documentaries in the UK.

• Higher production budgets in the UK.

• More relaxed broadcasting regulations.

• A lack of competition from other genres.

How does the speaker compare the quality of documentaries in the UK to those in America?

• They are of similar quality.

• UK documentaries are generally better.

• UK documentaries are less diverse.

• American documentaries are more innovative.