TELEVISION (TV)

• History

• Defining features of TV

• TV in 1960’s, 70’s and onwards.

• Digital age of TV

• Golden era of TV

• Common terms related to TV

• Philo Earnsworth diagrammed his idea for a television system.

• Farnsworth worked at developing his new device – image dissector.

• In 1928 Vladimir had perfected a primitive camera tube, the iconoscope.

• Early TV systems were poor but technical developments during 1930s improved performance.

•NBC gave first public demonstration of TV in 1939 World Fair.

•Technology perfected during World War 2 had improved TV.

•TV screens became bigger. More programs were available.

• 1945 (8 TV stations – 8000 homes had TV) and 1955 (100 TV stations – 35 million houses had TV).

•TV is a universal medium.

• Miniature TV sets make it possible to take TV anywhere.

• Surveys have revealed that most people choose television as their main source of news.

• TVs and network television is an expensive business.

•TV advertising is costly.

• New cable channels are increasingly geared to a small, well-defined audience niche.

• Programs of different types have been devoted to a specific kind of audience.

TV in 1950s, 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s and onwards….

1950s: Networks, Tapes, UHF and Color

Ampex Corp. developed video tape. UHF receivers were made but had smaller coverage than VHF. Color TV was introduced. More networks were developed.

1960s: Coming of Age

TV had become a part of everyday life. TV stations increased. TV journalism came in and the nightly newscasts expanded. Live coverage was available. Non-commercial broadcasting evolved. Cable TV experienced growth.

1970s: Growing Public Concern

Public concern over TV grew. Exposure to TV violence increased aggressive behaviors. Growth of television syndicated programming was encouraged. Law and order programs grew. Ex: FBI.

1980s and 1990s: Increased Competition

Networks kept on eroding. Audiences and the competition for new networks and cable channels increased. Capacity of cable networks increased. New cable programming service filled new channels. Advertising revenue increased.

• Began on 3rd April, 1997.

• 1930s and 21st century use the same technology-analog method.

• Federal law mandated that all TV stations must convert to digital transmission by 2003.

• Digital pictures are clearer, sound is better. Digital TV is more rectangular and looks more like a movie screen.

• Its High Definition (HDTV). It has more potential than analog system.

• Digital TV can send and receive e-mail, provide access to internet and transmit data. This new digital technology makes TV interactive.

• Digital TVs are anyway expensive and firm technical standards have yet to be worked out.

• This era was from 1949 to 1960.

• More and more networks were developed.

• Cables were laid from coast to coast.

• Different genres were developed: western, kids, comedies, operas, soaps, sitcoms etc.

• Live events could be covered and broadcasted. Ex: the assassination of President Kennedy and the Vietnam War.

• Innovative concepts and programs were introduced.

• This Golden Age is considered to be rudimentary, naïve and awkward by contemporary standards.

COMMON TERMS

• Zap - pausing anything on TV.

• Zip - fast forward programs or channels.

• Grazing – rapidly scan all channels in search of greener pastures.

• DBS – direct broadcast by satellite.