Com 249 Ch.9 Television: Broadcast and Beyond
What's on Cable?
Affiliates of Big Four broadcast networks Independents and smaller network affiliates Superstations Local-access channels Cable networks Premium channels Pay-per-view Audio services
Spanish Language Broadcasting
Univision is fifth largest broadcast network; often top rated in urban areas. Spanish-language telenovelas popular, produced in Mexico, Brazil. (Brazilian shows translated from Portuguese to Spanish.)
Future of Television
Video-on-demand Interacting with programming Convergence of television and Internet Redefining what "television" is. Moving from broadcast/cable/satellite to "cord cutting."
Color Television
1950s: Early experiments in color television 1965: Big Three networks broadcasting in color NBC peacock logo designed to tell B&W viewers show was in color Early color TVs cost equivalent of big screen TVs today
Standards for Television
1950s: Married couples had to sleep in separate beds; Capri pants immodest. 1990s: Mild nudity appears on broadcast television. 1997: Broadcasters implement content ratings.
Lucy & Desi End Live TV
1951: Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz create I Love Lucy. First sitcom to be filmed, rather than live. Lucy and Desi hold onto syndication rights to show. Still being broadcast today.
Public Broadcasting
1967: Corporation for Public Broadcasting created. Public Broadcasting System (PBS) provides network-like programming to member stations. PBS initially known for children's programming like Sesame Street. 1990s: PBS expands audience with programming like Ken Burns documentaries
An Earthquake in Slow Motion
1976: Average viewer has 7 channels, Big Three networks have 90 percent of viewers. 1991: Average viewer has 33 channels, Big Three lose 1/3rd of viewers. 2011: ESPN most profitable part of Disney, but cable payments are chaging this some. Cable/Satellite more profitable because programming cheaper to produce, get subscription fees and ad revenue.
Black Entertainment Network
1980: Washington, DC area local station First black-owned cable network--BET Worth $2 billion at time it sold to Viacom
Big Three Becomes Big Four
1986: Rupert Murdoch launches Fox Network Attracted independent stations by offering them free programming. Shows like NFL football, The Simpsons, American Idol, Glee and So You Think You Can Dance have made Fox top-rated broadcaster.
Problem of Decency
2004: Janet Jackson's Super Bowl "wardrobe malfunction"; decency rules become much stricter. Untimately CBS won vs. the FCC. 2012: U.S. Supreme Court throws out fines for Jackson exposure, but doesn't clarify decency standards. No fines for Nancy Grace exposure during Dancing With The Stars. No clear standard as of 2015.
Networks & Affiliates
Broadcast networks provide programming to local affiliate stations. Affiliates have license from FCC, equipment, and local staff. If affiliate carries programming from network, get limited ad revenue and (may) get carriage fee. Can also carry local and syndicated programming, keep all ad revenue.
Rebirth of Cable
By mid-1970s, FCC began loosening rules on cable companies. 1975: HBO starts providing programming nationwide, sending signal to local cable companies via satellite. Key Point: HBO could send programming to 1,000 cable companies as cheaply as to one.
Audience Ratings
Challenge of rating major and minor broadcast networks, major cable networks, and minor cable networks. Problem of counting DVR audiences. Nielsen Media Research is major rating company.
Television's Entertaining Critic
Comedian Jon Stewart of the Daily Show was seen as a top, credible news source. One of journalism's most biting critics. Stewart willing to call out guests on show for lying.
Beginning of Cable Television
Community Antenna Television (CATV) Early form of cable television used to distribute broadcast channels in communities with poor television reception. Relatively expensive, was source of a good TV signal, not additional programming.
Direct Broadcast Satellite (DBS)
Early satellite TV required large/expensive dish. Smaller pizza-sized DBS cheaper, easier to use than old systems; competing with cable. As of 2011, 29% of American households have DBS.
Conversion to Digital Broadcasting
Farnsworth's television technology was analog. Basic technology stayed the same for decades. B&W televisions could still receive new color signals. In 2009, all broadcast television converted to digital, old-style analog sets went dark without either conversion box or cable/satellite.
Ted Turner - Cable Pioneer
Helped create the Superstation concept: WGM, et al. 1980: CNN becomes first cable 24-hour news network. Developed idea of repackaging content across multiple channels. 1996: Turner Broadcasting faces financial trouble, is acquired by media giant Time Warner.
Digital Television
High-definition television (HDTV) High-resolution, wide-screen format with enhanced sound. Demize of the 3 x 4 aspect radio. Standard digital television Same quality as analog, but can broadcast up to six channels in airspace that carried one old-style channel.
1955 TV Set Cost
If one purchased a TV like the Admiral set previously noted for $350 It would cost $3,150 in today's dollars
Home Recording
Late 1970s: Videocassette Recorder (VCR) becomes household appliance. Movie studios fight spread of VCRs, but 1984 Supreme Court decision says consumers can make recordings for own use. 21st Century: DVRs, DVDs, on-demand replacing VCR technology.
Diversity on Television
Networks frequently criticized for ignoring people of color. Who was the first African-American to co-star on a U.S. TV Series? I-Spy:Bill-Cosby 2011: Of 27 new primetime shows, not one scripted program had a predominantly minority cast. But workplace-based shows are showing more diversity. Grey's Anatomy producer says shows need to move beyond the "sassy black friend." Growth of non-English speaking characters.
Measuring Audiences
People Meters used in larger markets Sweeps periods used to measure audience size of individual stations Rating point Percentage of potential television audience actually watching the show. Share Percentage of television sets in use tuned to a show.
Invention of Television
Philo T. Farnsworth 1922: Diagrams plans for television at age 16. 1930: Receives patent cathode ray tube. RCA attempted to promote its own Vladimir Zworykin as inventor of TV. 1947: Farnsworth's television patent expires year before TV starts to take off.
I Love Lucy Ratings
The series aired Monday nights at 9:00 p.m. 1951-52: #3 (50.9 rating) 1952-53: #1 (67.3 rating) 1953-54: #1 (58.8 rating) 1954-55: #1 (49.3 rating) 1955-56: #2 (46.1 rating) 1956-57: #1 (43.7 rating)
Television as a Social Force
Television brings world into the home in an easy-to-consume format. Television becomes dominant source of shared experience. Television can dominate people's leisure activity. Video from non-TV sources is growing in popularity—NETFLIX.
Late-Night Television
The Tonight Show starts in 1954 But becomes a brand under Johnny Carson Other networks try to complete, occasionally with some success
Audience Members as Active Consumers
Why do children choose to consume television? To be entertained To learn things For social reasons Different children watch for different reasons and get different outcomes from their viewing (They aren't that different from adults....)