Thursday and Friday This will take 2 days. I will show 3-5 minute clips of the TV shows / events referenced in the power point.

The Most Popular Mass Medium Television The Most Popular Mass Medium

Aim: What can we learn about television? Do Now: How much TV do you watch in a day? Homework: Watch one hour of TV- record # of commercials.

Cathode Ray Tube – In the late 1800’s the cathode ray tube—forerunner of the television picture tube---is invented. First television transmission – In 1927, 21 year old Philo Farnsworth transmits the first television picture electronically—the image of a dollar sign.

First Public Television Demo – In 1935, Farnsworth conducts the first public demonstration of television in Philadelphia. Television Technical Standards Are Set – The FCC in 1941 adopts the analog television standard that would endure for more than 60 years.

The Beginning Television came out around 1939 No single person is credited for inventing it Began as black and white Used radio programming

Great Invention or Wasteland? Average TV set is ON 7hrs and 32 min per day Average person spends 4hrs per day watching TV By 20 years old, the average American has seen 800,000 commercials We spend 900 hrs a year in school, and 1200-1800 hrs watching TV

How television works Broadcast TV (local stations) VHF (Very High Frequency) channels 2-13 UHF (Ultra High Frequency) channels 14-83 Stations are privately owned businesses However, the CHANNELS belong to the people

Networks Stations are AFFILIATED with (not owned by) one of four major networks- CBS, NBC, FOX, ABC Money comes from advertising

PUBLIC ACCESS STATION PBS is a non-profit station that carries generally educational programs PBS runs on government grants and $ from sponsors Example- channel 13

Cable Cable began in the late 1940’s NOT like today’s cable!!! It was a solution to the problem of weak reception More channels FCC required cable to have a Public Access Channel where the people could express their views

Television Freeze - To sort out standards and channel assignment issues, the FCC in 1948 declares a freeze on new television licenses until 1952. Audience Ratings – In 1950, the A.C. Nielsen Market Research Company begins tracking prime-time viewing audiences.

I Love Lucy – In 1951, I Love Lucy becomes the first television program filmed in front of a live Hollywood audience. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0UN1TMvXF1k http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bP9qICJXj08

Today and Tonight Shows – Between 1952 and 1954, NBC introduces the Today and Tonight shows, helping to wrest control of programming away from advertisers, who are unwilling to underwrite such long and expensive programs. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7a63F8koJmg http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAkkwsSNS8XScYFJRVpcwKw?feature=watch

Racism and TV – From 1951 to 1953, CBS airs a TV version of radio’s popular sitcom Amos ‘n’ Andy, featuring TV’s first all-black cast. The program is withdrawn from rerun syndication in the mid-1960’s after long-running protests from the NAACP and other civil rights groups that charge the program with fostering black stereotypes. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MILYw1sloxM

Color TV Standard – In 1954, after a long battle with CBS, RCA’s color system is approved by the FCC as the industry standard. Quiz Show Scandal – In 1958-59, investigations into rigged quiz shows force networks to cancel 20 programs; during the 1955-56 TV season, the $64,000 Question had been rated the nation’s No. 1 show. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dl8h6GtF5Qg

PBS – in 1967, Congress creates the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which establishes the Public Broadcasting Service and begins funding nonprofit radio and public TV stations.

60 Minutes – In 1968, CBS premieres 60 Minutes, establishing the standard for TV newsmagazines.

Consumer VCRs – In 1975-76, Beta and VHS video-cassette recorders begin selling to consumers; by the early 1980s, VHS, which holds more recording time, emerges as consumer standard.

All in the Family – Between 1971 and 1976, All in the Family is rated the nation’s No. 1 program; the sitcom confronts issues ranging from racism to the Vietnam War. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EOIAXcu06-k http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jMSTjMztabY&list=PL603E055214FE6F7A

Cable Takes Off – In 1976, Ted Turner beams a signal from WTBS, his Atlanta broadcast station, to a satellite where cable systems and TV stations around the country can access it.

Roots – In 1977, the eight-part Roots miniseries, based on writer Alex Haley’s search for his African heritage, airs and becomes the most-watched miniseries in TV history. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ecT6s7La07E

M*A*S*H – In 1983, the M*A*S*H season finale becomes the highest rated program in modern TV history. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3_qSqJGsnSA

Dynasty was an American primetime television soap opera that aired on ABC. Dynasty epitomized the style and content of American primetime soap operas in the 1980s, programs in which the characters either had money and power and wanted more, or didn't have either but wanted both badly. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uzXJ_kKfaNI http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W2duF5-i9T8

Cosby Show – Between 1985 and 1989, NBC’s Cosby Show, originally rejected by CBS and ABC, is rated the nation’s No. 1 Program. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YW9AG4TjdH0&list=PLNbEkdcZkcovjF_bHd7Gaxa79Tgnn1buC

Fox and The Simpsons – In 1987, the Australian media giant News Corp Fox and The Simpsons – In 1987, the Australian media giant News Corp. launches the Fox network, the first new network launch in more than 35 years. A year later, Fox premieres The Simpsons, the longest-running primetime cartoon in history. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V51kjyVY5bo

The X-Files – In 1993, The X-Files premieres and finally makes Fox competitive with ABC, CBS, and NBC. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pJPWgnvfaGg

UPN and the WB – Following the Fox formula, in 1995 the United Paramount Network and the Warner Brothers network begin broadcasting programs two nights a week.

Ownership Consolidation and the Telecommunications Act - In 1995, Disney buys ABC for $19 billion; in 1999, Viacom, which already owns UPN, acquires CBS for $37 billion. The 1996 Telecommunications Act had abolished most TV ownership restrictions, paving the way for Viacom to own two networks.

Return of the Quiz Show – ABC’s Who Wants to Be a Millionaire is rated the nation’s No. 1 show for the 1999-2000 TV season, restoring the popular—and less expensive---game show genre to prime-time TV for the first time since the quiz show scandals.

TV Advertising - In 2000, led by Proctor and Gamble and General Motors, national advertisers spend $30 billion a year purchasing TV commercials. Digital TV Standard – In 2002, the FCC rules to end a TV set’s ability to receive broadcast signals through the airwaves with an antenna by 2007, setting up the final chapter in the conversion of the TV technical standard from analog to digital.

Television Ratings Nielson Ratings- determine how many people watch a show Decides a program’s future Installs “People Meters” in 4000 carefully chosen households

Television Ratings “People Meter” is a small device that sits on top of the TV. Each member of the household programs age/sex etc. Each member of the household presses a button so that the device can record WHO is viewing WHAT

Television Ratings These people receive small gifts for their participation Changed every 24 months

What’s On??? Sitcoms Soap operas Drama Movies Documentaries Cartoons Fitness How-to’s Home Shopping Sports News Reality Shows Game Shows Educational Programming Talk Shows ETC…

TV- Good or Evil??? Good Bad Teaches important lessons Transmits information Entertains us Bad Exposure to violence, stereotypes Makes us STUPIDER/HEAVIER Leads to aggressive behavior/acceptance of aggression

Impact of the VCR Introduced in 1976 Advantages: -watch and tape simultaneously, -no need to be home to watch something -movies/shows “live” longer -documentation: family, news events, etc. -instructional videos- how to’s help the illiterate

Disadvantages Threatens the communication industry- gives people control (not watch commercials!)

Remote control Flippers-1/3 0f all TV watchers -change channels and never watch from beginning to end. Zappers- (9%) “ZAP” out advertisements Zippers- (20%)Avoid commercials by fast forwarding through them on the VCR

DVD’s and DVR’s DVD’s make it even easier to immediately fast forward through something you don’t want to watch (chapter to chapter) DVR’s Digital Video Recorders make it possible to program the recording of several shows at once Impact on advertising????

Television and the Power of Visual Culture

Group Work How much television do you watch? Which programs do you try to watch regularly? What attracts you to your favorite programs?