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
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 (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!!!!