The History of Television

1. The History of Television

2. Television • Introduced to the masses at the NY World’s fair in 1939 • Conflicting opinions about tv: the positives • Harmless pastime • Educational tool • Important part of culture

3. Television • The negatives: • Presents dangerously unrealistic picture of the world • Promotes violence • Waste of time

4. Tv statistics • % of households with at least 1 tv: 99 • # of tv sets in avg. U.S. household: 2 • % of U.S. homes with 3+ tv sets: 66 • # of hours per day tv is on in avg. U.S. home: 6 hrs. 47 min. • % of Americans that regularly watch tv while eating dinner: 66

5. Genres and Program Types • Purpose of tv • #1 to gather an audience for advertisers • Also: • Entertainment • Information/ education

6. Genres and Program Types • Because tv programs serve to gather an audience for advertisers (yes, you are viewed as a commodity): • There has been little change in programming since the beginning of tv • Networks tend to stick with what has worked in the past – success copying • When a certain type of program is successful on 1 network, others rush to produce a similar one • Accounts for waves of popularity of certain types of shows from season to season

7. Genres and Program Types • Very few series last more than 3 yrs; many cancelled during 1st yr. • Dependable programming: • Soap opera: daytime tv drama • Originated on radio shows; soap companies were often sponsors • Crime drama • CSI, NCIS, Law and Order • Reality tv • First shows: The Real World; Cops • Currently 1 of the most-watched genres • Dancing w/ Stars, American Idol, The Voice, etc.

8. Television and Stereotypes • Stereotype: • The application to an entire group of the qualities of a limited sample of that group • Examples of stereotypes: • How does tv perpetuate stereotypes? • How can we dispel stereotypes?

9. MTV and New Production Techniques • Created in 1981 as an all-music video channel for young audiences • MTV strives to use capabilities of video in new ways • Rapid-fire editing • Hand-held camera movements • Synchronizing video edits to music • Integration of digital production technology/effects

10. Broadcast Television • 1350++ stations in the U.S. • Channels 2-13 (VHF – very high frequency) • Channels 14-83+ (UHF – ultra high frequency) • # of channels available in any given area increased dramatically: • Cable networks • Satellite dishes

11. Licensing • Tv stations are licensed by the FCC to serve the “public interest” • License must be renewed every 3 yrs

12. 4 Major Networks • Nearly 85% of all tv stations affiliated with (not owned by) 1 of the following: • CBS: Columbia Broadcasting System • ABC: American Broadcasting Company • NBC: National Broadcasting Company • Fox: Fox Broadcasting Company • The most profitable stations are those affiliated with 1 of the above networks

13. Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) • A tv station that does not belong to a major network is either an independent station or a member of PBS • PBS stations carry cultural and educational programming • Supported by gov’t grants, donations from foundations and corporations, and contributions from individuals and groups

14. PBS • Not as dependent on advertising $ as commercial tv networks • PBS stations do present messages about underwriters or supporters

15. Independent Stations • Stations that do not belong to a major network or PBS • Program movies, local sports, and syndicated tv shows

16. Networks and Local Stations • Networks are not television stations; they do not broadcast programs – they supply programs to local tv affiliates via satellite • Local stations must fill their own programming when networks do not supply it • Networks provide programs free to the affiliates and are paid for the advertising time they can sell during the program

17. Cost of Advertising • The cost of advertising depends on the popularity of the program • The more viewers, the higher the cost of advertising • A small amount of time during each program is left for the local station to sell to local advertisers • This advertising constitutes main source of income for local stations

18. Cable Television • Began in the late 1940’s as a solution to a problem in rural areas • People paid fee to have tv set wired by cable to master antenna • Good reception without expense of rooftop antenna • From isolated rural areas, tv moved to cities • Tall buildings and airplane interference impacted reception • A few cable systems offered subscribers additional channels brought in from nearby cities as added service

19. Cable tv • Offers more channels than are possible with broadcast tv • Greatest benefit of cable tv: • It offers a large # of channels to everyone

20. Television Ratings • Tv networks have more competition and find fewer viewers in prime time • Nielson Ratings • Determine a program’s future • Nielson Ratings measure: • How many people watched a particular show in a particular time slot • What % of households with a tv watched show x • How show x is rated amongst other shows aired that week

21. Nielson Ratings • The higher the rating, the higher the cost of advertising, and the higher the revenue $$$$$$

22. Up for Debate … • Has television had a positive or negative effect on people and culture over the past 70 years? • Discuss!!!!