Com Final Exam Television and video

Philo Farnsworth

1927: Philo Farnsworth (age 21) first to transmit images via radio waves

Farnsworth beats RCA in development of TV but WWII and legal disputes delay commercial production; his key patents expire in 1947

Farnsworth unable to cash out on invention and RCA makes big $$$

David Sarnoff

founder of only NBC. Sarnoff was instrumental in building and establishing the AM broadcasting radio business that became the preeminent public radio standard for the majority of the 20th century.

RCA’s Sarnoff also hires engineer to develop TV; broadcasts first image Felix the Cat) in 1928

3 radio networks

NBC, CBS, ABC that provide local affiliate stations with content; expanded to TV

Affiliates obtain FCC license and pay

fees to networks for content
Ad revenue supports networks, affiliates

1980s: cable television and VCRs

compete with networks; networks profit

rom syndication rights

Big 4 networks

ABC, CBS, Fox, and NBC are the four largest U.S. commercial broadcast television networks.

The FCC

is an independent U.S. government agency that regulates interstate and international communications by radio, television, wire, satellite, and cable, ensuring orderly development, fair competition, and consumer protection in the telecommunications sector, covering everything from broadcast content to broadband deployment and emergency services
1979: cable allocates C-SPANs for government proceedings; FCC creates local public access channels

PBS

1967: Public Broadcasting Act establishes Corporation for Public Broadcasting (PBS) for public affairs, educational content

PBS kids’ programs, documentaries draw audiences; Sesame Street (1969) becomes a television institution

NPR

to National Public Radio, a U.S.-based public media organization providing news, cultural, and educational programming through a network of independent local stations, known for shows likeMorning EditionandAll Things Considered, supported by listeners, grants, and corporate sponsors, not heavy advertising

Univision

2010: Univision wins rights to broadcast FIFA World Cup; Univision now the 5th largest network

1987: Univision (Spanish-language) network launched
Provides more diversity in news perspectives and entertainment options

Telenovelas, game shows generate broad mass appeal

Spanish-language media fastest growing; L.A. largest market in the U.S

the largest Spanish-language media company in the U.S., providing news, entertainment (like telenovelas, sports), and cultural content for Hispanic America through television networks

The sitcom ( I love Lucy)

Developed in the early 1950s

Filmed with studio audience but ends era of live-only TV

Genre pioneered by I Love Lucy (1951)

Formulaic: 30-mins, simple plot, filmed with three cameras

popular in syndication (re-runs) and streaming sites

1950s: “I Love Lucy” features interracial couple

syndication

is the process of licensing television shows to multiple individual stations or platforms, allowing them to air content (like reruns or first-run shows) outside of their original network, creating wider reach, revenue, and programming variety for broadcasters. It lets producers earn more money, as successful shows generate significant profits from these secondary airings

MTV, real world

1981: (NYC) unveils 1st video: “Video Killed the radio star”

1984: VMAs launched, pushed television boundaries – appeal with teen market

Made music image-based and television nteractive (ex. TRL: Total Request Live)

1992: “The Real World” marks reality TV era

Youth engagement initiatives: MTV News

Rock the Vote, debate sponsorship

2025: Paramount announces MTV going off air in some international markets

American idol, live variety shows

Live voting

combining entertainment with interactive elements like live polls and social media integration, creating a loyal, participatory fanbase that values authentic, in-the-moment performance. They bridge the gap between performers and fans, creating lasting memories and unique interactions impossible

reality tv

Inexpensive and popular: no need for high-priced writers, screentalent; helps pay for (or subsidize) scripted programs
Democratizes stardom and fame; enables viewer interactivity

Formulaic casting, editing, formats; uses partial scripts

Advertisers like it for product placement, product integration

Nielsen

measures audiences; tracks 9,000 homes across U.S.; adds social media measures in 2016

cord cutting

Audiences now watch on all screens; rise of VOD and PVOD

2005: Netflix launches streaming “binge model”of consumption; cable subscriptions start to decline

Streaming poaches major TV talent (Ex. Netflix deal with Shonda Rhimes, Apple deals with Oprah, Steven Spielberg

Expanded streaming choices means fragmented audiences,decline in cable bundles, rise of “a-la-carte” consumption

2025: Pew reports 36% of U.S. adults have cable subscriptions

media, it's canceling cable/satellite TV for streaming; in spirituality

Binge model

releasing entire seasons of a show at once on streaming platforms, enabling viewers to watch multiple episodes (often 2+) in one sitting, unlike traditional weekly releases, creating intense narrative arcs, front-loading dopamine for addiction, and shifting TV consumption to on-demand, data-driven habits, championed by services like Netflix.

drives massive subscriber engagement for streaming platforms, offers viewers deep immersion and satisfaction, builds intense short-term hype (like forSquid Game), and caters to modern viewing habits

Prime time tv

 8-11 pm) = most viewers, yields most ad revenue

Affiliate stations

are local TV or radio stations that partner with a national network (like NBC, ABC, CBS) to broadcast its shows, but remain independently owned, offering both network content (news, primetime shows, sports) and local programming (news, ads). This arrangement benefits both: networks get wider reach, while affiliates get popular content and revenue from ads and retransmission fees, serving as crucial links between national broadcasters and regional audiences, notes Fiveable and

HBO

highly important to its affiliates primarily due to its

strong brand reputation for high-quality, "prestige" content, which helps affiliates attract and retain subscribers. Its exclusive programming is a significant draw for affiliate marketing programs. 

its revolutionary role in premium television,

establishing the "prestige TV" standard with high-quality, ad-free, cinematic shows (likeThe Sopranos), attracting top talent, and transforming TV into a serious art form with complex, mature storytelling, even expanding into broader streaming via Max for wider appeal. It changed business models and cultural conversations, becoming synonymous with quality, a cornerstone of entertainment. 

Franchises

an authorization granted by a government or company to an individual or group enabling them to carry out specified commercial activities, e.g., providing a broadcasting service or acting as an agent for a company's products.

CNN

An American multinational news channel and media company, founded in 1980 by Ted Turner and Reese Schonfeld. It was the first television channel to provide 24-hour all-news coverage and has a significant global influence on news reporting and public opinion.

Cabel, catv

Community Antenna Television, a system that delivers TV programming to subscribers via coaxial or fiber-optic cables, originating from a central source, often in areas with poor over-the-air reception; it provides a wider variety of channels and better quality than traditional antennae. Essentially, it's the technical term for traditionalcable television service, using a shared cable network (now often hybrid fiber-coax) to bring broadcast signals and specialized

residuals strike

residuals are ongoing payments to actors, writers, and crew for the reuse of their work (reruns, streaming, DVD, etc.) after the initial broadcast, negotiated by unions like SAG-AFTRA and WGA to provide income between jobs, though streaming has complicated these payments, often resulting in smaller, less frequent checks compared to traditional media. These payments, based on formulas considering factors like role size, budget, and market, are crucial for many performers' livelihoods. 

broadcast license

a government-granted legal authorization for entities to transmit radio or TV signals, managing limited airwaves by assigning specific frequencies and regulating content to serve the "public interest," requiring regular renewal and adherence to rules on technical standards, content, and ownership

Young adult fiction

largest book genre best selling

fragmentation

the big, shared TV audience is splintering into many smaller, specialized groups due to endless content choices from streaming, apps, and digital platforms, moving away from a few major channels to personalized, niche viewing, making mass reach harder but allowing tailored content