Television movies, also known as TV movies or made-for-TV movies, are films produced specifically for and originally broadcast on television, rather than being released in theaters or direct-to-video. Titles that contain 'TV' in their entry often do so for several reasons:
Clarification of Medium: The 'TV' in a title can clarify that the content is a television movie, distinguishing it from theatrical releases. This is important for audiences and archiving purposes, as indicated by the APA Style and MLA Style citation guides which provide specific ways to reference film and television content.
Historical Context: The 'TV' in a title can denote a historical context, especially for older movies that were made when television was a new medium. This is supported by the Quora article discussing the evolution of movie titles.
Branding and Marketing: Including 'TV' in a title can be a branding and marketing strategy to attract viewers who are familiar with the television format, as suggested by the The Movie Database (TMDB) guidelines on content classification.
Awards and Recognition: Some titles may include 'TV' to be eligible for television awards, as mentioned in the International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences FAQ.
Content Identification: The 'TV' in a title can help in identifying the content as a television movie, especially in databases and libraries that categorize films and TV shows, as referenced in the VicScreen Glossary.
In conclusion, the inclusion of 'TV' in a title serves to clearly identify the medium of the film, provide historical context, aid in marketing and branding, and assist in awards eligibility and content identification.