1. Electronic Media: Then, Now, and Later
Norman J. Medoff and Barbara K. Kaye
Medoff & Kaye Electronic Media 3/e Chapter 4

2. Television and Radio Programs and Programming
Chapter 4
Television and Radio Programs
and Programming
Medoff & Kaye Electronic Media 3/e Chapter 4

3. Then: Types of Radio Programs (1 of 2)
Music
By late 1920s, live music dominated
By late 1940s, comedies, dramas, quiz shows, etc.
Dramas
Serial and episodic dramas
Soap Operas
Comedies
Amos ‘n’ Andy, Burns & Allen, Jack Benny, Bob Hope
Amos ‘n’ Andy under fire for stereotypical caricatures
Beulah: first radio sitcom starring African American
Medoff & Kaye Electronic Media 3/e Chapter 4

4. Then: Types of Radio Programs (2 of 2)
Back to the music
Radio thrived through 1930s-1940s
Many radio programs migrated to TV
Program migration and technological innovations encouraged return to music on radio
Music recording (vinyl, tape)
Transistor and car radios
Music formatting attracted specific listeners
Rock ’n Roll
Drew young people to radio
Allen Freed, Todd Storz and Bill Stewart, Casey Kasem
Top 40 format
Medoff & Kaye Electronic Media 3/e Chapter 4

5. Now: Types of Radio Programs
Music
Format
News and information AM
Three categories:
All news
Sports/talk
News/talk
Noncommercial radio
Educational
Corporation for Public Broadcasting
National Public Radio
Top 10 formats 2013
Country
News/talk
Pop CHR
Adult contemporary (AC)
Classic hits
Classic rock
Hot AC
Urban contemporary
Rhythmic contemporary
Sports
Medoff & Kaye Electronic Media 3/e Chapter 4

6. Now: Where Radio Programs Come From (1 of 2)
Local programs
Network/syndicated programs
Network programs all inclusive; complete
Syndicated programs are individual shows aired by a station between its own programs
Usually delivered by satellite; aired live or tape delay
Paid for by cash and/or barter
Medoff & Kaye Electronic Media 3/e Chapter 4

7. Now: Where Radio Programs Come From (2 of 2)
How programs are scheduled (hot clock)
Who schedules programs (program director)
Medoff & Kaye Electronic Media 3/e Chapter 4

8. Then/Now: Types of TV Programs (1 of 4)
Genres: Narrative or non-narrative
Stories in narrative programs focus on lives of fictional characters
Stories in non-narrative programs focus on real people and do not come from scripts
Talk shows, reality shows, game shows, sports, news
Medoff & Kaye Electronic Media 3/e Chapter 4

9. Then/Now: Types of TV Programs (2 of 4)
Narrative programs
Anthologies
Dramas
Serials (Soap operas)
Telenovelas
Situation Comedies
Stretch the envelope
Lack of racial diversity
Movies and Miniseries
Medoff & Kaye Electronic Media 3/e Chapter 4

10. Then/Now: Types of TV Programs (3 of 4)
Non-narrative programs
Variety shows
Game and quiz shows
Reality shows
Reality situation, family, dating, game, etc.
Sports
Live coverage facilitated by technological developments
Late-night talk
Medoff & Kaye Electronic Media 3/e Chapter 4

11. Then/Now: Types of TV Programs (4 of 4)
News and Public Affairs
Local newscast
Broadcast network news and public affairs shows
Cable news (CNN, 1980)
Viewer evaluations of credibility
Decreased use of newspaper
Children’s shows
Kukla, Fran, and Ollie; The Lone Ranger; Sesame Street; SpongeBob SquarePants, etc.
Noncommercial television
CPB created Public Broadcasting Service (1969)
Masterpiece Theater, NOVA, American Family, Antiques Roadshow, etc.
Medoff & Kaye Electronic Media 3/e Chapter 4

12. Then/Now: Where Television Programs Come From (1 of 2)
Treatment ► Pilot ► Schedule
Who produces and distributes programs
Producers
Broadcast and cable networks
Syndicators
Off-network versus first-run
Local television stations
Newscasts and other content of local interest
Prime-time access rule (PTAR)
Cable companies
Local origination, local access, public access
Noncommercial stations
PBS, independent producers
Medoff & Kaye Electronic Media 3/e Chapter 4

13. Then/Now: Where Television Programs Come From (2 of 2)
Who pays for programs
Producers
Networks
Local stations
Reverse compensation
Cash/barter options
Cable Companies
Syndicators
PBS Productions
Medoff & Kaye Electronic Media 3/e Chapter 4

14. Then/Now: Who Carries What?
Broadcast network affiliates
Big three (ABC, CBS, NBC) facing competition
New networks, including Spanish-language
Prime time: mainstay of TV industry
Non–prime time (daytime and late night) generally more profitable
Cable networks
Specialized (hundreds)
Premium and pay-per-view channels
HBO, Cinemax, etc.
Local-origination and local-access channels
Medoff & Kaye Electronic Media 3/e Chapter 4

15. Then/Now: Program Scheduling (1 of 2)
Seasons
Historically, right after Labor Day
More flexibility now in terms of timing
Season length
Originally episodes; now episodes
More flexible now; may be split into two units or bursts
Midseason replacements
Medoff & Kaye Electronic Media 3/e Chapter 4

16. Then/Now: Program Scheduling (2 of 2)
Programming strategies
Tentpoling
Hammocking
Leading in
Leading out
Bridging
Blocking
Seamless programming
Counterprogramming
Head-to-head programming
Stunting
Repetition
Stripping
Medoff & Kaye Electronic Media 3/e Chapter 4

17. Later: Radio and Television
Marketing syndicated programs
National Association of Television Program Executives (NATPE)
Cable television
Importance of cable-originated programming
Award-winning shows
Streaming services (e.g., Netflix) beginning to produce programs
Medoff & Kaye Electronic Media 3/e Chapter 4