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Television The Power of Visual Culture

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Early Innovations in TV Technology Cathode ray tube (late 1800s): Combined principles of the camera and electricity Scanning disk (1880s): Separated pictures into pinpoints of light that could be transmitted as a series of electronic lines The FCC declared a freeze on new television licenses from 1948 to 1952: TV markets could only support limited airwaves and they would interfere with each other (one station could have channel 2 & 4 but not 3) so cable fixed this problem by using wires instead. However the freeze came about as a way to regulate geographical locations but the new problem was that big cities had channels while little ones didnt. The freeze ended after the second conference of the NTSC (National Television System Committee: a group that represented major electronic firms in charge of making guidelines for sales and distribution)

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The Introduction of Color Television RCA had the first successful color broadcast system in 1954 Deliberations about color TV standards began in 1952, but it wasnt until 1966 that all big three networks (ABC, NBC, & CBS) broadcast in color.

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Controlling Content Early television programs often had single sponsors. Networks lacked creative control, so they made programs longer, which raised costs and forced advertisers out. Two new types of programs helped networks gain control over content. Magazine format: Multi segments that featured news, talk, comedy etc. Model after the general interest magazines of the time such as Life TV spectacular: Now referred as the Television Special. Think more in terms of a variety show or special productions (First one was Peter Pan) By the early 1960s, television had become a dominant mass medium and cultural force New, longer formatswhich single sponsors couldnt affordallowed networks to shift to a spot-ad system and limit sponsor control of program content. Advertisers would pay for 30 or 60 second time slots No multiple sponsors can be showcased during the time of shows like Sky King sponsored by Peter PanSky King sponsored by Peter Pan

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The Quiz Show Prime-time quiz shows Cheap to produce, but rigged Dropped by networks amid allegations of being fixed The Van Doren Scandal Impact of the quiz show scandals Ended sponsors role in creating content Undermined Americans expectation of the democratic promise of television Magnified the division of high and low culture attitudes toward television People felt lied to and the cynical view on television began after this Although renamed games shows such as Jeopardy! & Wheel of Fortune where around, it was not until 1999 when Who Wants to be a Millionaire did quiz shows come back to good graces

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Cable Services Basic cable services Hundred-plus channels Local cable company pays each satellite-delivered service a per-subscriber fee. Premium cable services Premium channels such as HBO Pay-per-view (PPV) channels Video-on-demand (VOD) channels

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DBS: Cable without Wires Direct broadcast satellite (DBS) services Transmit a signal directly to a satellite dish at customers homes Reduced cable penetration Began scrambling signals to prevent free access to broadcasts Modern services include DirecTV and the DISH Network

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Home Video & TV Converges with the Internet Non-television delivery systems are one of the biggest technical innovations inTwo purposes of DVD and DVR Videocassette recorders (VCRs) Introduced in the mid-1970s Federal court permitted home taping for personal use Movie rentals became popular Replaced by DVDs, which are being replaced by Blu-ray and DVRs Video rentals and time shifting TV. Third screen: Downloading and streaming via internet Refers to viewing content on computer screens Used primarily as catch-up services Popular sites for viewing video: YouTube, iTunes, Hulu, Netflix Cable TV giants are also making programs available online. Xfinity TV and HBO Go Fourth screen: Smartphones, iPods, iPads, and mobile TV devices Forcing major changes in consumer viewing habits and media content creation Multi-functionality and portability mean viewers may no longer need TV sets

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TV Entertainment: Our Comic Culture Networks move to Los Angeles in the 1950s who identified with being entertainment. Kinescopes were used to preserve live broadcasts (a poor format that recorded live TV shows off monitors). The enduring appeal of comedy has made it a staple of television programming Three TV comedy formats Sketch comedy: Short skits; think SNL Situation comedy: The sitcom; think Friends Domestic comedy: More on character development; think The Office

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TV Entertainment: Our Dramatic Culture TV dramas developed in two directions from early stage influences: anthology drama and the episodic series Anthology drama: Live dramatic theater like productions (think Alfred Hitcock) Brought live dramatic theater to the television audience Ended for both economic and political reasons Episodic series Two general types : Chapter shows (think CSI) & Serial programs (think soap operas) However, modern shows are hybrids which have both

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TV Information: Our Daily News Culture Since the 1960s, broadcast news, especially on local TV stations, has consistently topped print journalism in national research polls that ask which news medium is most trustworthy Network news NBC s Meet the Press (1947) CBS-TV News (1948) First news show to be videotaped for rebroadcast on affiliate stations (1956) ABC World News Tonight (1978) Cable news First cable news channel was CNN Created a 24/7 news cycle

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Top Genres Over the Past Decade

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Reality TV and Other Enduring Trends Other genres like talk shows, game shows, newsmagazines, variety programs, and sporting events have played major roles in television history. Reality TV and Spanish- language television are two of the latest in growing trends Traditional genre trends Talk shows, game shows, variety shows, news magazines, and sporting events

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Reality TV and Other Enduring Trends Cont. Ethnic & Age Gap Television Television networks with specified geared audience by race or age BET, Telemundo, MTV, Noggin Reality TV Introduces audiences to characters who are more like them Inexpensive to produce