Chapter 5 Knowledge Claims

1.) “Like radio in the 1930s and 1940s, early television programs were often conceived, produced and supported by a single sponsor.”

Some of television’s earliest shows were sponsored by a single company (Goodyear TV Playhouse, Buick Circus Hour, etc). As time progressed, stations grew frustrated with the amount of control that these sponsors held. Out of this frustration stemmed the structure that we are familiar with today – multiple sponsors paying to air commercials embedded within television programs.

2.) “Syndication, selling TV stations the exclusive rights to air TV shows, is a critical component of the distribution process.”

Each years thousands of executives from TV stations to buy and bid over television show rights. These rights are usually bought in two or three years increments. These syndicated programs are most often used to fill the time chunks outside of primetime. The use of these shows is often a cost-efficient way to keep viewers happy and watching.

3.) “In addition to problems faced by our public broadcasting system, the original ideal of “universal” television programming serving as our cultural yardstick has also been undercut.”

With the invention of cable, the VCR, DVRs and others of the like, it is easy for individuals to tune in to programs covering their own unique interests. As inventions like this continue to become available, television watchers are less likely to tune into the same programs as their peers. The idea that television can unite people by drawing them to similar programming will likely become an idea of the past.