NBC National Broadcasting Corporation 1950s – sets standard for color TV (with FCC) 1950s – sets standard for color TV (with FCC) Creates “magazine” format for selling advertising – shifts program creation from advertisers to networks. Creates “magazine” format for selling advertising – shifts program creation from advertisers to networks. Huntley-Brinkley Report changes the style and length of network news Huntley-Brinkley Report changes the style and length of network news

NBC takes a dive Drops to third place in 1970s behind even lowly ABC Drops to third place in 1970s behind even lowly ABC Hires Grant Tinker as president and makes comeback in late 1980s. Hires Grant Tinker as president and makes comeback in late 1980s. Shows like Cheers, Hill Street Blues and superhit The Cosby Show take NBC to the top of the ratings. Shows like Cheers, Hill Street Blues and superhit The Cosby Show take NBC to the top of the ratings.

General Electric Buys RCA and NBC 1985 – G.E. buys its old competitor 1985 – G.E. buys its old competitor G.E. slashes NBC budget – especially hurts the news division G.E. slashes NBC budget – especially hurts the news division But NBC develops big hits – Seinfeld, Frazier, E.R., Friends. But NBC develops big hits – Seinfeld, Frazier, E.R., Friends. G.E. gobbles up cable channels: Arts and Entertainment, Court TV, American Movie Classics, Bravo, Sports Channel America, and the History Channel. G.E. gobbles up cable channels: Arts and Entertainment, Court TV, American Movie Classics, Bravo, Sports Channel America, and the History Channel.

ABC Happy Days Perennial ratings loser ABC finally has a big hit with Roots … based on Alex Haley’s novel Perennial ratings loser ABC finally has a big hit with Roots … based on Alex Haley’s novel Roots – the most successful mini- series, an innovation in itself. Roots – the most successful mini- series, an innovation in itself. Other successes: Wide World of Sports, Happy Days Other successes: Wide World of Sports, Happy Days

ABC is bought by... Capital Cities – 1985 Capital Cities – 1985 Disney 1996 Disney 1996 The Disney Channel, ABC Family, Toon Disney, the ESPN group and SOAPnet. Disney also holds substantial interest in Lifetime (50%), A&E (37.5%), and E! (40%).The Disney Channel, ABC Family, Toon Disney, the ESPN group and SOAPnet. Disney also holds substantial interest in Lifetime (50%), A&E (37.5%), and E! (40%).The Disney ChannelABC FamilyToon DisneyESPNSOAPnetLifetimeA&EE!The Disney ChannelABC FamilyToon DisneyESPNSOAPnetLifetimeA&EE! Through ABC, Disney also owns 10 local television stations, 26 local radio stations, and ESPN Radio, Radio Disney, and ABC Radio News, which carries such radio personalities as Sean Hannity and Paul Harvey. Buena Vista Television, which also is a part of the Media Networks unit, produces such syndicated television programs as Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?, Live with Regis and Kelly, and Ebert & Roeper.Through ABC, Disney also owns 10 local television stations, 26 local radio stations, and ESPN Radio, Radio Disney, and ABC Radio News, which carries such radio personalities as Sean Hannity and Paul Harvey. Buena Vista Television, which also is a part of the Media Networks unit, produces such syndicated television programs as Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?, Live with Regis and Kelly, and Ebert & Roeper.ESPN Radio DisneyABC Radio NewsSean HannityPaul HarveyBuena Vista Televisionsyndicated television programsWho Wants to Be a Millionaire?Live with Regis and KellyEbert & RoeperESPN Radio DisneyABC Radio NewsSean HannityPaul HarveyBuena Vista Televisionsyndicated television programsWho Wants to Be a Millionaire?Live with Regis and KellyEbert & Roeper

Other Networks Rupert Murdoch’s News Corporation launches the Fox Network in 1985 Rupert Murdoch’s News Corporation launches the Fox Network in 1985 Began with six company owned stations as affiliates Began with six company owned stations as affiliates First shows: Married... With Children (ran 11 years) and short lived Tracy Ulman show which spawned the longest running sitcom ever … The Simpsons First shows: Married... With Children (ran 11 years) and short lived Tracy Ulman show which spawned the longest running sitcom ever … The Simpsons

Fox Plays Ball bids 1.58 BILLION DOLLARS for rights to four years of National Football Conference. (NFC) bids 1.58 BILLION DOLLARS for rights to four years of National Football Conference. (NFC) NFL agrees to the deal. NFL agrees to the deal. Clearly established Fox as the fourth major network, equal to the big three. Clearly established Fox as the fourth major network, equal to the big three.

How Radio Paved the Way For TV Government decided to go with free market system for radio with oversight rather than government controlled system Government decided to go with free market system for radio with oversight rather than government controlled system Established Federal Regulatory system – FCC Established Federal Regulatory system – FCC Developed programming Developed programming Developed networks Developed networks Advertising systems for broadcast were developed Advertising systems for broadcast were developed

Top Ten Media Companies-U.S. 1 Time Warner 1 Time Warner 2 Comcast Corp. 2 Comcast Corp. 3 Viacom (CBS) 3 Viacom (CBS) 4 Walt Disney Co. (ABC) 4 Walt Disney Co. (ABC) 5 NBC Universal (General Electric Co.) 5 NBC Universal (General Electric Co.) 6 Cox Enterprises 6 Cox Enterprises 7 DirecTV Group 7 DirecTV Group 8 News Corp. (Fox) 8 News Corp. (Fox) 9 Gannett Co. 9 Gannett Co. 10 Clear Channel Communications 10 Clear Channel Communications

Public Broadcast Before 1967 college and some local radio stations had educational programming. Very few TV stations. Before 1967 college and some local radio stations had educational programming. Very few TV stations. The Public Broadcasting Act of 1967 created the Corporation for Public Broadcasting - a funding organization to develop public television and radio networks. The Public Broadcasting Act of 1967 created the Corporation for Public Broadcasting - a funding organization to develop public television and radio networks.

Public Networks National Public Radio – (NPR) 1967 National Public Radio – (NPR) 1967 American Public Radio – (APR) mid 1980s American Public Radio – (APR) mid 1980s Public Broadcast System (PBS) 1967 TV network Public Broadcast System (PBS) 1967 TV network

How Public Media is Funded Subscriber (listener) donations Subscriber (listener) donations Underwriting Underwriting Government funding Government funding

Controversy Creates Funding Problems 1970s – Nixon administration claimed public television had a left wing bias – began funding cuts 1970s – Nixon administration claimed public television had a left wing bias – began funding cuts Conservatives continued to attack public media, cut funding Conservatives continued to attack public media, cut funding Public media had to rely more on corporate funding (underwriting) Public media had to rely more on corporate funding (underwriting) Corporate sponsors refuse to fund programming they considered politically incorrect (damaging to corporate interests) Corporate sponsors refuse to fund programming they considered politically incorrect (damaging to corporate interests)

CPB Board Member Forced to Resign November Kenneth Tomlinson resigns as head of CPB November Kenneth Tomlinson resigns as head of CPB A disgraced Tomlinson was shown the door at the CPB two days after their IG issued a report detailing Tomlinson's efforts to impose a partisan agenda on PBS and other publicly funded programming. A disgraced Tomlinson was shown the door at the CPB two days after their IG issued a report detailing Tomlinson's efforts to impose a partisan agenda on PBS and other publicly funded programming.shown the doorimpose a partisan agendashown the doorimpose a partisan agenda