Broadcast and cable television networks have since aired programs that are branded as "limited series" or "event series." Several television executives interviewed by The Hollywood Reporter stated that the two aforementioned terms denote programs similar to the miniseries while others claim that the term "miniseries" has negative connotations to the public, having become associated with the melodramas that were commonly done under this format.[1]
The term "limited series" came to be adopted in the 2010s by the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences to refer to television series that are preconceived as being one-season shows with no intention of being renewed for additional seasons, or feature rotating casts and storylines each season, such as American Horror Story, Fargo and True Detective. This makes the self-contained season longer than a miniseries, but shorter than the entire run of the multi-season series. This terminology became relevant for the purpose of categorization of programs for industry awards.[2]
In American television, the term "limited series" (also called an "event series") came to be adopted in the 21st century to refer to television series that are preconceived as being fixed-term series,[3] with a few of the earliest examples being Revelations,[4][5] The Pillars of the Earth,[6] Harper's Island,[3] and V (2009).[7] These series have a self-contained season longer than a traditional miniseries, but shorter than the run of a multi-season series.[citation needed] Another variation on this is television series that feature rotating casts and storylines each season, such American Horror Story,[8] Fargo,[9][10] and True Detective,[11] which are sometimes referred "anthology limited series".[8][12]
Such terminology came into use for the purpose of ensuring that Primetime Emmy Award categories reflect the changing landscape of television.[2] In 2014, for example, producers of the series Fargo obtained permission to enter that program into the miniseries category, while True Detective was submitted into competition as a drama series.[13] Neither show was entered into the 2015 Emmy race because their second seasons did not air during the eligibility period. By the 2015 Emmy season, however, the miniseries category was renamed as "limited series" (as it has been previously named between 1974–85[14]), which is defined as a program that tells a complete story and does not feature the same main characters in subsequent seasons.[13] Under the new guidelines, both Fargo and True Detective are considered limited series, which separates them from traditional television dramas with more conventionally-structured seasons such as Mad Men or Game of Thrones, thus giving both sets of shows a greater opportunity to win awards.[2]
article that actually use "limited series" and "miniseries" in a contrasting fashion: [32]
Kudos to CBS, too, for bending the episodic mold (and its procedural comfort zone) to accommodate a stunt resembling the British TV model — that is, a limited series with a fixed run.
NBC isn't calling this a "miniseries" but rather a "six-hour event series," which gives the network the option of bringing it back weekly next fall.
...but NBC opened its event series "Revelations" to strong numbers Wednesday.
Munich-based boutique producer-distributor Tandem Communications has nailed down the rights to Ken Follett's best-seller "The Pillars of the Earth" to produce as a limited series with Ridley and Tony Scott's Scott Free Prods.
...and "V," which will be presented as a limited "event" series.
FX has ordered the sixth installment of the groundbreaking and award-winning anthology limited series American Horror Story, it was announced today by John Landgraf, CEO of FX Networks and FX Productions.
FX has given the green light to the first limited series under the cable network's push in that programming area — an adaptation of Joel and Ethan Coen's 1996 comedic crime drama Fargo.
Anthology series like Fargo and True Detective rely on ditching characters to keep it fresh. But is that fair to audiences?
In a competitive situation, True Detective, an eight-part event drama series project starring Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson, has landed at HBO with a straight-to-series order..
Networks, desperate to stand out, use terms like "limited series" and "event series" to trumpet their one-off star vehicles—which can get relabeled as anthologies if their impact merits a second round.
"It's nothing like Twin Peaks," moans novelist-turned-TV auteur Bruce Wagner, who created the six-hour, four-part "event series" (as ABC insists on billing it) with a little help from his friend and co-executive producer, Oliver Stone.