Comparison of tv program genres: The examples of Esra Erol'da reality program and Kan Çiçekleri soap opera

The television screen immerses us into a completely different world, regardless of the location and time we are in, whether it is real or fictional. It can influence us from the images we see, the sounds we hear, to the emotions we feel and the connections we establish. With the transformations it has undergone over the years, it easily captures its audience. Such a medium certainly encompasses various types of content. Among the most important are the soap operas that have left their mark over the years with their popularity and the most followed reality programs of recent times. Over time, with the increase and diversification of media products, these two formats have become the most preferred productions in the industry. However, the clear distinctions between formats have gradually begun to blur in order to attract the attention of the audience. This situation has led to the intertwining of the currently popular reality programs with the strong format of the past, soap opera format. Based on this aspect, the study has aimed to reveal the structural similarities between soap operas and reality programs. It has targeted to uncover which elements bear similarity between soap operas and reality programs. The study selected the program Esra Erol'da broadcast on ATV and the series Kan Çiçekleri aired on Kanal 7 as examples. Between the dates of October 4, 2024- October 31, 2024 for the program Esra Erol'da, and December 5, 2022- December 30, 2022 for Kan Çiçekleri, 20 episodes from each production were examined. The narrative analysis and content analysis methods were used in the examination. As a result of the analysis, striking similarities were observed between the reality program and the soap opera series. It has been revealed that both formats possess parallel stories and plot structures, especially in terms of storytelling. This study is significant in providing current and comprehensive data regarding the discussions on the blurring line between soap operas and reality programs.