1
Chapter 9
Television:
Broadcast and Beyond
2
Sinclair Broadcast Group
Family run group of 173 stations in 81 markets; affiliated with
Fox, ABC, CBS, NBC and Univision
Questions about corporate “must run” messages sent to
affiliates brought company into the news
3
Hanson, Mass Communication: Living in a Media World, 7e
SAGE Publishing, 2019
3
Sinclair Broadcast Group
Required broadcast of conservative commentaries
Biggest controversy was script complaining about “fake news”
sent out to all stations to be recorded by local anchors
4
Hanson, Mass Communication: Living in a Media World, 7e
SAGE Publishing, 2019
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 just before TV
starts to take off
5
Hanson, Mass Communication: Living in a Media World, 7e
SAGE Publishing, 2019
5
Beginning of Broadcast Television
1939: NBC starts broadcasting, most sets in bars, restaurants
1942: TV manufacturing suspended for duration of WW II; most
stations go off air
Licensing of new TV stations suspended 1948–1952, leaving
many cities without television
6
Hanson, Mass Communication: Living in a Media World, 7e
SAGE Publishing, 2019
6
Lucy & Desi End Live TV
1951: Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz create I Love Lucy
One of the first sitcoms to be filmed, rather than live
Lucy and Desi hold onto syndication rights to the show, still
being broadcast today
7
Hanson, Mass Communication: Living in a Media World, 7e
SAGE Publishing, 2019
7
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
8
Hanson, Mass Communication: Living in a Media World, 7e
SAGE Publishing, 2019
8
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
9
Hanson, Mass Communication: Living in a Media World, 7e
SAGE Publishing, 2019
9
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
10
Hanson, Mass Communication: Living in a Media World, 7e
SAGE Publishing, 2019
10
Ted Turner – Cable Pioneer
1963: inherits failing billboard company from father
1970: buys Channel 17 in Atlanta
Buys Atlanta Braves and Hawks sports franchises to provide
programming for channel
Turns Channel 17 into Superstation WTBS in 1976, takes local
station national
11
Hanson, Mass Communication: Living in a Media World, 7e
SAGE Publishing, 2019
11
Ted Turner – Cable Pioneer
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
12
Hanson, Mass Communication: Living in a Media World, 7e
SAGE Publishing, 2019
12
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
13
Hanson, Mass Communication: Living in a Media World, 7e
SAGE Publishing, 2019
13
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 replaced VCR technology; on-
demand, streaming replacing replacements
14
Hanson, Mass Communication: Living in a Media World, 7e
SAGE Publishing, 2019
14
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 2015, 33 million American households have DBS
15
Hanson, Mass Communication: Living in a Media World, 7e
SAGE Publishing, 2019
15
Conversion to Digital Broadcasting
Farnsworth’s television technology was analog; same
technology for decades
B&W televisions could still receive new color signals
In 2009, all broadcast television converted to digital. Analog
sets went dark without either conversion box or cable/satellite
16
Hanson, Mass Communication: Living in a Media World, 7e
SAGE Publishing, 2019
16
Digital Television
High-definition television (HDTV)
High-resolution, wide-screen format with enhanced sound
Standard digital television
Can broadcast up to six channels in airspace that carried one
old-style channel
17
Hanson, Mass Communication: Living in a Media World, 7e
SAGE Publishing, 2019
17
Networks and 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
18
Hanson, Mass Communication: Living in a Media World, 7e
SAGE Publishing, 2019
18
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
19
Hanson, Mass Communication: Living in a Media World, 7e
SAGE Publishing, 2019
19
Public Broadcasting
1990s: PBS expands audience with programming like Ken Burns
documentaries
2015: Sesame Street moves to HBO for first-run episodes; PBS
continues to air episodes after they are shown on HBO
20
Hanson, Mass Communication: Living in a Media World, 7e
SAGE Publishing, 2019
20
Big Three Becomes Big Four
1986: Rupert Murdoch launches Fox Network
Attracted independent stations by offering them free
programming
Shows like The OT, The Simpsons, Empire, and Bob’s Burgers
have made Fox a top-rated broadcaster
21
Hanson, Mass Communication: Living in a Media World, 7e
SAGE Publishing, 2019
21
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
22
Hanson, Mass Communication: Living in a Media World, 7e
SAGE Publishing, 2019
22
Measuring Audiences
People Meters used in larger markets
Rating point
Percentage of potential television audience actually watching
the show
Share
Percentage of television sets in use tuned to a show
23
Hanson, Mass Communication: Living in a Media World, 7e
SAGE Publishing, 2019
23
Measuring Audiences
Live only
Live + SD – live or same day as aired
Live + 3 – live or within three days of airing
Live + 7 – people who watch within 7 days of airing; most
comprehensive measure
24
Hanson, Mass Communication: Living in a Media World, 7e
SAGE Publishing, 2019
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 one-third
of viewers
2011: ESPN most profitable part of Disney
25
Hanson, Mass Communication: Living in a Media World, 7e
SAGE Publishing, 2019
25
An Earthquake in Slow Motion
2012–2017: ESPN loses more than 10 million subscribers as
viewers find alternatives to cable/satellite
Cable/satellite more profitable because get subscription fees and
ad revenue
Streaming services major new source of competition
26
Hanson, Mass Communication: Living in a Media World, 7e
SAGE Publishing, 2019
26
Diversity on Television
Networks frequently criticized for ignoring people of color
Growth of non-English speaking characters
Growth of shows with African American women as leads
27
Hanson, Mass Communication: Living in a Media World, 7e
SAGE Publishing, 2019
27
Diversity on Television
Growth in availability in LGBTQ programming, especially on
streaming. Now have subcategories
“Media gaystreaming”
28
Hanson, Mass Communication: Living in a Media World, 7e
SAGE Publishing, 2019
28
Spanish Language Broadcasting
Univision is fifth largest broadcast network; often top rated in
urban areas
Suffering from general downturn facing Spanish-language
media
Spanish-language telenovelas popular, produced in Mexico,
Brazil (Brazilian shows translated from Portuguese to Spanish)
29
Hanson, Mass Communication: Living in a Media World, 7e
SAGE Publishing, 2019
29
Spanish Language Broadcasting
Telemundo having success reaching younger audiences
More and more of Hispanic audience are English-only speakers
30
Hanson, Mass Communication: Living in a Media World, 7e
SAGE Publishing, 2019
30
Anchor as Advocate
Jorge Ramos speaks to huge audience (triple CNN’s audience)
as Univision anchor
Ramos is advocate for Latino and immigrant groups; part of
shift on many cable channels to opinion journalism
Noted for controversy during 2016 presidential campaign with
Donald Trump
31
Hanson, Mass Communication: Living in a Media World, 7e
SAGE Publishing, 2019
31
Black Entertainment Television
1980: Washington, D.C. area local station
First black-owned cable network
Worth $2 billion at time it sold to Viacom
32
Hanson, Mass Communication: Living in a Media World, 7e
SAGE Publishing, 2019
32
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
33
Hanson, Mass Communication: Living in a Media World, 7e
SAGE Publishing, 2019
33
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
Cable only stations are not subject to FCC rules on decency
34
Hanson, Mass Communication: Living in a Media World, 7e
SAGE Publishing, 2019
34
Problem of Decency
2004: Janet Jackson’s Super Bowl “wardrobe malfunction”;
decency rules become stricter
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
35
Hanson, Mass Communication: Living in a Media World, 7e
SAGE Publishing, 2019
35
Defining Television in the 21st Century
2005 – Apple started selling downloads of popular current
shows
2007 – Netflix starts streaming programming
Can streaming services replace cable/satellite programing for
“cord cutters”?
Big media companies starting their own streaming services
Changing definition of “television”
36
Hanson, Mass Communication: Living in a Media World, 7e
SAGE Publishing, 2019
36
Media Transformations:
Everyone Can Stream
Individuals can now stream online through services such as
Periscope
Democratic members of congress kept streaming from floor of
house after congressional cameras were shut down; streams
were carried by C-SPAN
Sporting events get rebroadcast by consumers over streaming
services
Streaming video is social
37
Hanson, Mass Communication: Living in a Media World, 7e
SAGE Publishing, 2019
Chapter 9 Overview
Summary and Learning Objectives
Television was developed in the 1920s and 1930s by
independent inventor Philo T. Farnsworth and RCA engineer
Vladimir Zworykin. Commercial broadcasting began in the
United States in 1939, but its development was put on hold by
the outbreak of World War II. By the early 1950s, television
was established as the dominant broadcast medium. Color
television broadcasts came into widespread use in the 1960s.
Although primitive forms of cable television existed in 1948,
cable did not become a significant medium until the early 1980s
when satellite distribution of channels became common. Among
the early cable channels were a number of networks created by
Ted Turner. Viewers gained access to additional choices in the
form of VCRs and direct broadcast satellite service. Television
broadcasting has switched from analog signals to multiple
digital formats, and VCRs have almost completely been
replaced by DVRs, DVDs, video on demand, and streaming
technology.
Television networks have been criticized for failing to include
women and minorities in their programming, but cable channels
have delivered more programming that addresses diverse
interests. Networks have also been criticized for carrying too
much violent and sexually explicit programming. But television
has been praised for breaking down geographic and social
barriers. Broadcast television is currently going through a cycle
in which “indecent” content is being suppressed by the
government.
Television is changing rapidly, with audience members getting
many new options to control how and when they receive
programming. With VCRs, DVRs, interactive television, and
broadband video, viewers can choose what they watch and when
they watch it. They are also able to interact with the
programming through online and mobile resources.
CMST 432 Media Systems and Communication Technology
Recommended Text and Materials
Hanson, R. E. (2018) Mass communication: Living in a media
world (7th ed.). SAGE.
Recommended Resources for Additional Exploration
The Mass Communication student companion
website: http://edge.sagepub.com/hanson7e (Links to an
external site.)
This site is a particularly good resource for review of course
materials.
Chapter 9 Television: Broadcast and Beyond
1. Discussion post: Content and Class Representation.
· Visit the entertainment website for your favorite TV network,
or one that you watch a lot, such as http://abc.go.com/ ,
http://www.bravotv.com/ , and http://www.cwtv.com/ .
· Browse around the different shows that are on that network
and take note of the types of people and lifestyles which seem
to be represented most often.
· What social class is most often represented in different shows?
· What professions do characters have?
· How do your observations match up with what you read in
Chapter 9?
· Why does the entertainment media industry so often portray
affluent lifestyles rather than poor or working-class
experiences?
· Think in terms of ideology and in terms of the economic
pressures of the media business.
2. Nielsen Ratings - Chapter 9
Compete the ratings academy and write a paragraph on what you
learned? Discuss what areas fascinated you the most.
http://ratingsacademy.nielsen.com/

1 chapter 9televisionbroadcast and beyond2

  • 1.
    1 Chapter 9 Television: Broadcast andBeyond 2 Sinclair Broadcast Group Family run group of 173 stations in 81 markets; affiliated with Fox, ABC, CBS, NBC and Univision Questions about corporate “must run” messages sent to affiliates brought company into the news 3 Hanson, Mass Communication: Living in a Media World, 7e SAGE Publishing, 2019 3 Sinclair Broadcast Group Required broadcast of conservative commentaries Biggest controversy was script complaining about “fake news” sent out to all stations to be recorded by local anchors 4 Hanson, Mass Communication: Living in a Media World, 7e
  • 2.
    SAGE Publishing, 2019 Inventionof 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 just before TV starts to take off 5 Hanson, Mass Communication: Living in a Media World, 7e SAGE Publishing, 2019 5 Beginning of Broadcast Television 1939: NBC starts broadcasting, most sets in bars, restaurants 1942: TV manufacturing suspended for duration of WW II; most stations go off air Licensing of new TV stations suspended 1948–1952, leaving many cities without television 6 Hanson, Mass Communication: Living in a Media World, 7e SAGE Publishing, 2019 6 Lucy & Desi End Live TV 1951: Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz create I Love Lucy One of the first sitcoms to be filmed, rather than live
  • 3.
    Lucy and Desihold onto syndication rights to the show, still being broadcast today 7 Hanson, Mass Communication: Living in a Media World, 7e SAGE Publishing, 2019 7 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 8 Hanson, Mass Communication: Living in a Media World, 7e SAGE Publishing, 2019 8 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 9 Hanson, Mass Communication: Living in a Media World, 7e SAGE Publishing, 2019
  • 4.
    9 Rebirth of Cable Bymid-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 10 Hanson, Mass Communication: Living in a Media World, 7e SAGE Publishing, 2019 10 Ted Turner – Cable Pioneer 1963: inherits failing billboard company from father 1970: buys Channel 17 in Atlanta Buys Atlanta Braves and Hawks sports franchises to provide programming for channel Turns Channel 17 into Superstation WTBS in 1976, takes local station national 11 Hanson, Mass Communication: Living in a Media World, 7e SAGE Publishing, 2019 11 Ted Turner – Cable Pioneer 1980: CNN becomes first cable 24-hour news network Developed idea of repackaging content across multiple channels
  • 5.
    1996: Turner Broadcastingfaces financial trouble, is acquired by media giant Time Warner 12 Hanson, Mass Communication: Living in a Media World, 7e SAGE Publishing, 2019 12 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 13 Hanson, Mass Communication: Living in a Media World, 7e SAGE Publishing, 2019 13 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 replaced VCR technology; on- demand, streaming replacing replacements 14
  • 6.
    Hanson, Mass Communication:Living in a Media World, 7e SAGE Publishing, 2019 14 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 2015, 33 million American households have DBS 15 Hanson, Mass Communication: Living in a Media World, 7e SAGE Publishing, 2019 15 Conversion to Digital Broadcasting Farnsworth’s television technology was analog; same technology for decades B&W televisions could still receive new color signals In 2009, all broadcast television converted to digital. Analog sets went dark without either conversion box or cable/satellite 16 Hanson, Mass Communication: Living in a Media World, 7e SAGE Publishing, 2019 16 Digital Television High-definition television (HDTV)
  • 7.
    High-resolution, wide-screen formatwith enhanced sound Standard digital television Can broadcast up to six channels in airspace that carried one old-style channel 17 Hanson, Mass Communication: Living in a Media World, 7e SAGE Publishing, 2019 17 Networks and 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 18 Hanson, Mass Communication: Living in a Media World, 7e SAGE Publishing, 2019 18 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 19 Hanson, Mass Communication: Living in a Media World, 7e
  • 8.
    SAGE Publishing, 2019 19 PublicBroadcasting 1990s: PBS expands audience with programming like Ken Burns documentaries 2015: Sesame Street moves to HBO for first-run episodes; PBS continues to air episodes after they are shown on HBO 20 Hanson, Mass Communication: Living in a Media World, 7e SAGE Publishing, 2019 20 Big Three Becomes Big Four 1986: Rupert Murdoch launches Fox Network Attracted independent stations by offering them free programming Shows like The OT, The Simpsons, Empire, and Bob’s Burgers have made Fox a top-rated broadcaster 21 Hanson, Mass Communication: Living in a Media World, 7e SAGE Publishing, 2019 21 Audience Ratings Challenge of rating major and minor broadcast networks, major
  • 9.
    cable networks, andminor cable networks Problem of counting DVR audiences Nielsen Media Research is major rating company 22 Hanson, Mass Communication: Living in a Media World, 7e SAGE Publishing, 2019 22 Measuring Audiences People Meters used in larger markets Rating point Percentage of potential television audience actually watching the show Share Percentage of television sets in use tuned to a show 23 Hanson, Mass Communication: Living in a Media World, 7e SAGE Publishing, 2019 23 Measuring Audiences Live only Live + SD – live or same day as aired Live + 3 – live or within three days of airing Live + 7 – people who watch within 7 days of airing; most comprehensive measure 24 Hanson, Mass Communication: Living in a Media World, 7e SAGE Publishing, 2019
  • 10.
    An Earthquake inSlow Motion 1976: average viewer has 7 channels, Big Three networks have 90 percent of viewers 1991: average viewer has 33 channels, Big Three lose one-third of viewers 2011: ESPN most profitable part of Disney 25 Hanson, Mass Communication: Living in a Media World, 7e SAGE Publishing, 2019 25 An Earthquake in Slow Motion 2012–2017: ESPN loses more than 10 million subscribers as viewers find alternatives to cable/satellite Cable/satellite more profitable because get subscription fees and ad revenue Streaming services major new source of competition 26 Hanson, Mass Communication: Living in a Media World, 7e SAGE Publishing, 2019 26 Diversity on Television Networks frequently criticized for ignoring people of color Growth of non-English speaking characters Growth of shows with African American women as leads 27 Hanson, Mass Communication: Living in a Media World, 7e SAGE Publishing, 2019
  • 11.
    27 Diversity on Television Growthin availability in LGBTQ programming, especially on streaming. Now have subcategories “Media gaystreaming” 28 Hanson, Mass Communication: Living in a Media World, 7e SAGE Publishing, 2019 28 Spanish Language Broadcasting Univision is fifth largest broadcast network; often top rated in urban areas Suffering from general downturn facing Spanish-language media Spanish-language telenovelas popular, produced in Mexico, Brazil (Brazilian shows translated from Portuguese to Spanish) 29 Hanson, Mass Communication: Living in a Media World, 7e SAGE Publishing, 2019 29 Spanish Language Broadcasting Telemundo having success reaching younger audiences More and more of Hispanic audience are English-only speakers
  • 12.
    30 Hanson, Mass Communication:Living in a Media World, 7e SAGE Publishing, 2019 30 Anchor as Advocate Jorge Ramos speaks to huge audience (triple CNN’s audience) as Univision anchor Ramos is advocate for Latino and immigrant groups; part of shift on many cable channels to opinion journalism Noted for controversy during 2016 presidential campaign with Donald Trump 31 Hanson, Mass Communication: Living in a Media World, 7e SAGE Publishing, 2019 31 Black Entertainment Television 1980: Washington, D.C. area local station First black-owned cable network Worth $2 billion at time it sold to Viacom 32 Hanson, Mass Communication: Living in a Media World, 7e SAGE Publishing, 2019 32
  • 13.
    Television as aSocial 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 33 Hanson, Mass Communication: Living in a Media World, 7e SAGE Publishing, 2019 33 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 Cable only stations are not subject to FCC rules on decency 34 Hanson, Mass Communication: Living in a Media World, 7e SAGE Publishing, 2019 34 Problem of Decency 2004: Janet Jackson’s Super Bowl “wardrobe malfunction”; decency rules become stricter 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
  • 14.
    35 Hanson, Mass Communication:Living in a Media World, 7e SAGE Publishing, 2019 35 Defining Television in the 21st Century 2005 – Apple started selling downloads of popular current shows 2007 – Netflix starts streaming programming Can streaming services replace cable/satellite programing for “cord cutters”? Big media companies starting their own streaming services Changing definition of “television” 36 Hanson, Mass Communication: Living in a Media World, 7e SAGE Publishing, 2019 36 Media Transformations: Everyone Can Stream Individuals can now stream online through services such as Periscope Democratic members of congress kept streaming from floor of house after congressional cameras were shut down; streams were carried by C-SPAN Sporting events get rebroadcast by consumers over streaming services Streaming video is social 37 Hanson, Mass Communication: Living in a Media World, 7e
  • 15.
    SAGE Publishing, 2019 Chapter9 Overview Summary and Learning Objectives Television was developed in the 1920s and 1930s by independent inventor Philo T. Farnsworth and RCA engineer Vladimir Zworykin. Commercial broadcasting began in the United States in 1939, but its development was put on hold by the outbreak of World War II. By the early 1950s, television was established as the dominant broadcast medium. Color television broadcasts came into widespread use in the 1960s. Although primitive forms of cable television existed in 1948, cable did not become a significant medium until the early 1980s when satellite distribution of channels became common. Among the early cable channels were a number of networks created by Ted Turner. Viewers gained access to additional choices in the form of VCRs and direct broadcast satellite service. Television broadcasting has switched from analog signals to multiple digital formats, and VCRs have almost completely been replaced by DVRs, DVDs, video on demand, and streaming technology. Television networks have been criticized for failing to include women and minorities in their programming, but cable channels have delivered more programming that addresses diverse interests. Networks have also been criticized for carrying too much violent and sexually explicit programming. But television has been praised for breaking down geographic and social barriers. Broadcast television is currently going through a cycle in which “indecent” content is being suppressed by the government. Television is changing rapidly, with audience members getting many new options to control how and when they receive
  • 16.
    programming. With VCRs,DVRs, interactive television, and broadband video, viewers can choose what they watch and when they watch it. They are also able to interact with the programming through online and mobile resources. CMST 432 Media Systems and Communication Technology Recommended Text and Materials Hanson, R. E. (2018) Mass communication: Living in a media world (7th ed.). SAGE. Recommended Resources for Additional Exploration The Mass Communication student companion website: http://edge.sagepub.com/hanson7e (Links to an external site.) This site is a particularly good resource for review of course materials. Chapter 9 Television: Broadcast and Beyond 1. Discussion post: Content and Class Representation. · Visit the entertainment website for your favorite TV network, or one that you watch a lot, such as http://abc.go.com/ , http://www.bravotv.com/ , and http://www.cwtv.com/ . · Browse around the different shows that are on that network and take note of the types of people and lifestyles which seem to be represented most often. · What social class is most often represented in different shows? · What professions do characters have? · How do your observations match up with what you read in Chapter 9? · Why does the entertainment media industry so often portray affluent lifestyles rather than poor or working-class experiences? · Think in terms of ideology and in terms of the economic pressures of the media business.
  • 17.
    2. Nielsen Ratings- Chapter 9 Compete the ratings academy and write a paragraph on what you learned? Discuss what areas fascinated you the most. http://ratingsacademy.nielsen.com/