All you need to know about the 'Miniseries' format of television

There are TV enthusiasts who enjoy season on season of show viewing, then there are binge-watchers who swear by their Netflix subscriptions. But there is a lot, somewhere in the middle of these two extremes, who like the occasional diversion towards a short, crisp storyline that ends soon.

So if you are facing paucity of time and are tussling to figure out how to keep yourself updated on the best that TV has to offer; or if you want to occasionally catch up on TV shows that are not as long as a movie but give you a movie like feeling on the small screen, episode after episode, hold on!

There is a new wave of television viewing coming your way as Star World Premiere HD is all set to launch, for the first time in India, a distinguished monthly property ‘Star World Premiere HD Miniseries of the Month’.

Not many people are aware of the concept of ‘Miniseries’ and rightfully so because this peculiar TV story-telling format has not been launched in India yet.

So what is a Miniseries after all?

Unlike just another television show, the miniseries is a unique category of television production that displays a narrative in a pre-determined fashion lasting only a season long. With limited number of episodes, a miniseries stands between a movie and a long-lasting TV show with just enough number of episodes to depict a storyline that ends with the season.

Miniseries v/s TV series

Miniseries

One season
Usually 6 – 10 episodes
One single season with a story that has a definite beginning, middle and end

TV Series

Long-lasting series with many seasons
22 – 24 episodes long per season
Long standing story-line that goes on for seasons

Why should Miniseries be the top choice on your list?

A fresh, new and exciting concept in India to keep up with growing demands of audiences’ need for quality content, the miniseries, although smaller than regular television series, is a cutting edge concept that strives to introduce viewers to complex characters and more intricate plotlines. Impactful and poignant, the miniseries has quickly made a mark in the entertainment genre. Soon enough one of the most prestigious award ceremonies ‘Emmys’ came up with a category on Miniseries to recognise and award deserving miniseries and since the biggest actors from Hollywood have moved to TV to become a part of the miniseries, maybe it is time for you to switch too.

Did You Know These Actors Moved from Hollywood to TV to create History?

1.  One of the best actresses of her generation, Meryl Streep moved to television for the Pulitzer prize winning play to miniseries adaptation, Angels in America.

2.  One of the greatest actors in the history of cinema, Al Pacino put his life in Hollywood on hold to be a part of Angels in America.

3.  The gorgeous, critically acclaimed Kate Winslet chose to be part of TV miniseries Mildred Pierce.

4.  Grease and Face Off fame John Travolta returned to TV after an illustrious 40-year career to star in Ryan Murphy’s miniseries The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story.

5.  Tom Hanks and Steven Spielberg got together to executive produce one of the biggest miniseries, Band of Brothers.

6.  Damien Lewis turned to television to be part of Band of Brothers.

7.  X-Men’s Magneto fame Michael Fassbender also chose to be part of Band of Brothers.

8.  Popular actress Winona Ryder was part of the miniseries Show Me A Hero alongside Hollywood actor Oscar Isaac

Top Miniseries You Must Catch Up On

1.  Angels in America

2.  The Jinx: The Life & Death of Robert Durst

3.  Olive Kitteridge

4.  Mildred Pierce

5.  Band of Brothers

6.  Show Me A Hero

You can catch these miniseries on Star World Premiere HD​ starting August 6, every first Saturday and Sunday of the month.​