This post is due by Tuesday, February 4 @ midnight for full credit.
Email late posts to rob.williamsATmadriver.com for partial credit.
Read our MEDIA@CULTURE book, assigned chapter(s) above.
In a SINGLE blog post below for ALL chapters in the section, provide for EACH chapter:
1. A single sentence, IYOW, that captures the THESIS (main argument) for each chapter.
In a SINGLE blog post below for ALL chapters in the section, provide for EACH chapter:
1. A single sentence, IYOW, that captures the THESIS (main argument) for each chapter.
2. THREE specific pieces of supporting documentation - ideas, concepts, stats, data - to bolster your thesis for each chapter. (Use 2 - 3 sentences for each.)
3. A single PERSONAL story of 3-4 sentences that connects the chapter directly with your own personal media experiences.
4. A SINGLE specific question you have after reading and blogging on ALL chapters of assignment.
Game on,
Dr. W
Chapter 6.
ReplyDelete1. Television reflects the transition of media from being a mass experience to personal experience and highlights the effectiveness of media convergence.
2. With each new television distribution technology the medium has become more individualized. Originally, television was only able to reach those in major cities by way of wires and satellite, then in more cities through cables, and then finally to even those living in rural areas by way of direct broadcast satellite.
The next aspect to be more individualized was the content being aired on television. When the medium first became widely available, people across the country patiently awaited their favorite programs that only came on once a week at the same time. These beloved programs appealed to the masses. Today’s television provides a vast number of different genres of programs such as comedy, drama, children’s programming, and all day news reports all of which play on different channels all day everyday.
In addition to a vast variety of programs, there is a vast variety of ways to watch these programs. Internet sites such as Netflix and Hulu allow viewers to watch their favorite movies at home on TVs and computers as well as on the go through smart phones and tablets. Television went from a strategically planned activity to a medium that can be experienced anytime anywhere.
3. As a student with an ever-changing schedule I can relate to the usefulness of television becoming a personalized activity. I rarely sit down to watch a program that comes on at a certain time because I am rarely in the same place at the same time everyday. However, being able to turn on my computer and watch an episode of whatever show I am into at that time because I have some free time to myself is incredibly convenient.
4. If, reality TV has served as a means for television industries to cut costs, but they are still looking for more ways to lower expenses in a growlingly competitive market, what is next? Even lower budget shows, or higher costs for having television?
Chapter 6
ReplyDelete1. TV is the main source of media going from mass to personal experience in a relatively short period, allowing people to view and record certain shows they liked more than others (this is what makes the experience personal rather than mass).
2. The stats caught my attention in this chapter. One of the tables that caught my attention the most was on page 222, the prime-time networking pricing. The price for one hour of TV space during prime-time is staggering, even the price for a half-an-hour is scary. I watch Grey’s Anatomy and the price they pay to be in that time slot is crazy. I always wondered if you watch the show live or record it, if that makes a difference.
Also all the subscribers to all the different TV provides. They provide internet, TV, and phone. I can remember when they used to just offer phone. Then when they offered phone and TV, they just began to offer all three as I entered high school and I am not that old haha. It is scary to read about how times have changed and to actually be a part of that change for a change.
Another thing that always seems to stick out to me in these chapters is the timelines they display at some point in the chapter. I find it fascinating to watch how media has changed over time through TV and all the access we currently have to TV. We have so much access to watch whatever we want wherever we are whenever we want to watch it today it amazes me. To have grown up with the traditional ‘Tube” TV to evolve to the flat screen with smart screen technology TV’s have today, Scary!!
3. I don’t think I ever actually sit down at 9pm to watch Criminal Minds on CBS or any other show I love to watch. I used to before the DVR, on demand, and online TV were here. Since I have access to all of these three things I don’t have to schedule my life around TV shows, I don’t think anyone does anymore these days. Our lives are just too busy and we are never in the same place at the same time.
4. What will the next big thing in the TV revolution be and how will affect our daily lives? How will this next big advancement affect the economic status of the current and future TV shows and their prime-time slots?
Chapter 6:
ReplyDelete1. This chapter focuses on the development of cable television, technological advancements affecting viewing practices of programmed shows, and the economics of the new basis of media.
2. Community antenna television was the first type of cable electronic telecommunication medium products that was most prominently used in rural areas with mountainous as well as isolated areas blocked by creations made by the earth or by actual human mankind to be able to get a better broadcast signal. Today’s modern day satellite cable systems are very successful causing broadcasting news networks to suffer, having the ability to target niche audiences with popular channels labeled as narrowcasting. Current television customers choose between Basic Cable (hundred-plus channel lineup of local broadcast signals) along with the option of premium of channels with higher additional costs and then there are Direct Broadcast Satellite Services though that offers problems for secluded regions because of possible hazards for wires needed to be installed.
New technologies such as smartphones, laptops, and iPads have now allowed individuals across the world to view their favorite movies, shows, and special events on their own time for pleasure which is much more convenient. Before having these luxuries, in the past we had to tape our desired programs at the slotted running time if we wanted to see it or instead wait for it to air again at another time. The websites and services used for streaming and downloading television programs missed that you want to catch up on include Hulu, iTunes, and Netflix.
Television programs are seen in two forms that include entertainment and information based with entertainment being comedy, cartoons for kids, drama, game shows, reality TV, romance, music awards, and sporting events. Then the informational based programs include the local as well as national news involving channels such as CBS, ABC, NBC, FOX, CNN, PBS, The History Channel and The Weather Channel (TWC). In terms of economics as well as ownership, advertising is seen throughout television programs as a form of revenue in order for the original programming to pay the network stations for carrying their created product, while there is also rating and shares that is a measure of the amount of people watching the particular program at the specific designated time displaying its popularity and successfulness level.
3. I tend to rely on online streaming sites on my laptop to watch television shows or movies that I had not seen while in theaters because I find it extremely convenient when most us in the world have busy schedules. I rarely watch television that is aired at its set time slot because I normally have conflicting events going such as homework, studying, and volunteering my time with the SMC basketball teams often for statistical work. Spare time is very hard to come by on the weekdays for me at least while at college because of all the activities and priorities that come before my own extended time for pleasurable interests and passions of my own. Also, in terms of basketball and baseball games, I watch extended highlights of games that I miss because it recaps the most important plays and periods during the event.
4. Question from Chapter 6: How will television change over the next few decades? What will be the next television innovation that comes to life in the future and how will it impact viewing habits as well as advertising ownership screen policies as time goes on?
Chapter 6
ReplyDelete1.) The purpose of this chapter is to explore the history of television and the nature of its industry and content.
2.) The chapter begins with an exploration of the invention of television, which can be traced all the way back to the iconoscope in 1923, invented by Vladimir Zworyskin, before Philo Farnsworth invented the first electronic image scanning system which he patented in 1930. It then moves on to the topic of regulation and the game show scandals, segueing into the development of cable TV, which greatly prevented the kind of rampant sponsorship scandals of the past.
The chapter then moves on to look at how modern technology and the internet are affecting television, using examples like Youtube and Hulu, which allow people to watch those shows which used to be the domain of television, as well as the rise of original programming for internet services.
It then goes into detail on various TV genres like comedy and genre, before returning back to the topic of regulation, mostly focusing on the prevention of networks controlling and censoring national content in America, as well as the Telecommunications Act of 1996 which brought cable under the same regulations as radio and television. The chapter finishes with a lengthy exploration of the nature of intellectual rights and ownership in the industry, and a look at the major players of the industry.
3.) When I was a kid, I never really watched TV outside of Tom and Jerry, the only show I had an interest in, and which I only ever seemed to notice occasionally. Even then, I honestly don't actually remember having spent any time watching TV, aside from one particularly memorable time when I got into a spat with my cousin over the fact that he kept changing the channel to wrestling, which I both was not allowed to and didn't wish to watch. The last time I seriously watched television, I wasn't even 10 years old, and I've ignored it since.
4.) In what ways have television companies been able to control the opinions of the country through their control of content? Any glaring examples? In what ways can they do these things today?
Television is the largest and most influential form of medium.
ReplyDelete"What cable really did was introduce a better business model-earning money from monthly subscription fees AND advertising." (pg 194)
"Among the biggest technical innovations in TV are nontelevision delivery systems. We can skip a network broadcast and still watch our favorite shows on DVRs, on laptops, or on mobile devices for free or for a nominal cost."
"In the 1950s, television's appearance significantly changed the media landscape-particularly the radio and magazine industries, both of which had to cultivate specialized audiences and markets to survive." (pg 232)
Being a huge fan of television shows this chapter was especially interesting to me. The history behind broadcasting, the different genres of shows, and the evolution of how we watch television was completely fascinating. I know for me at home I love my beloved 72 inch, but here at school I am left with the 8.5 inch screen of my iPad and Netflix to fix my television cravings.
Will television ever become obsolete?
Chapter 6
ReplyDelete1. Television has expanded tremendously since cable as first been invented, going from mass media to a more personal experience letting the audience be more in control of what they watch.
2. -Many television channels in the early 1940's were controlled and run by one sponsor. Eventually the cost was too expensive for one controller which led to diminishing the control they had one what and when people watched television.
-Community Antenna television were the first small cable systems when cable television first came out. Large buildings would block out regular broadcast signals. Now there are satellites that send a signal to the earth and transmit the television show that a person wants to watch. And now instead of one or two channels available, basic cable consists of hundreds of channels for viewers to choose from.
-Now views have the option to get Premium Channel broadcasting which now opens viewers to a whole other realm of channels such as HBO and Showtime. This promises its viewers no commercials or advertising while watching. This makes the television experience much more personalized.
3. It is hard for me to remember a time that I did not have the option to go On Demand and instantly watch a movie where there are no commercials or no interruptions. Now being at college I have a new found appreciation for premium channels and On Demand. I really see now that television has really personalized itself and made the viewer the controller of what he watches. I do not think I could go back to when television was more of mass media rather than personalized.
4.. Will television companies eventually stop viewing due to the take over of premium channels? What will happen to the effectiveness of commercials if this happens?
1.) Chapter 6, Television and Cable shows how the medium became what it is today and how it went from mass to becoming more personalized. \
ReplyDelete2.) The transition from basic cable to upgraded plans was where the money was able to be made in the T.V industry. Upgraded plans, color T.V, and advertising are all ways that cable companies make a profit off of Television.
The fourth-screen has given T.V another way to be viewed by the people. Television and film went from theaters and home sets to mobile viewing that people can use anywhere by their smartphones and tablets.
The different types of comedies show how our population loves variety and enjoys personalizing their television experience. There is an option for everyone to enjoy and the companies get this feedback of popularity to follow trends.
3.) Growing up I always recognized trends on T.V. My parents would watch comedies and dramas while my sister would watch “reality” T.V. These shows and channels gained and lost popularity however the industry had not. There are always changing trends from zombies to other types of series. I never really got into watching full series’ of television however it seems everyone around enjoys shows such as The Walking Dead and Breaking Bad.
4.) Do our everyday lives change the image of television through popular trends?
Chapter six analyzes televisions development as well as its social significance. Early in the chapter it is three historical events are identified as pivotal to televisions development; “(1) technological innovations and patent wars, (2)
ReplyDeleteWrestling control of content away from advertisers, and (3) the sociocultural impact of the infamous quiz-show scandals”(196). The patent wars were between two inventors Vladimir Zworykin and Philo Farnsworth. “Zworykin invented the iconoscope, the first TV camera tube to convert light rays into electrical signals, and he received a patent for it in 1928” (197). Philo Farnsworth “transmitted the first electronic TV picture. With that the RCA fought against Farnsworth “in a major patents battle” (197) ultimately loosing when “Farnsworth received a patent for the first electronic television” (197) in 1930. Television quickly became a central source for mass media. Originally television programs would have only one sponsor. With this system whoever the sponsor was would have had a great deal of influence over the shows content. To fix this television programs were made longer raising the cost to advertise on a show. With this programs began to have multiple sponsors and advertisements distributing the influence they could have on shows content. Some of the most popular shows at the time were quiz shows. “Compared with dramas and sitcoms, quiz shows were (and are) cheap to produce, with inexpensive sets and mostly nonactors as guests. The problem was that most of these shows were rigged” (200). Eventually the truth about these shows came out. The major implication of this fraud was that people were no longer sure if they could trust the information they received on television. The chapter continues to discuss elements of television that are common today such as the development of cable and the convergence of television and the Internet.
Personally I was never a television person until I figured out how to get it on my computer. The social experience of watching television as a group has never been one that I particularly enjoyed. However since my discovery of television online (which is a fairly recent discovery for me) my attitude towards television has changed. I enjoy all different types of television programing behind my computer, I have found it to be a more private experience where I can rewind, pause, and watch, as I deem necessary.
What type of influence do advertisers and sponsors have on television programs today?
Chapter 6
ReplyDelete1) This chapter is about the drastic changes television has made and how it has become such a massive form of media in the current day and age.
2) The first picture ever transmitted to a TV was in 1930 by twenty-one year old Philo Farnsworth. Now, not only can we record any TV show we want and watch it whenever we want, we can stream these shows through the internet on websites such as Netflix or Hulu. The first small cable system was called CATV. These systems served about 10 percent of the country and contained only twelve channels. These early cable systems, unlike the radio, relied on wires. In 1977 only 14 percent of the United States received cable in their home. By 1985 the percentage was up to 46 and by 1997 all the basic cable channels were in most homes in the US. The new online viewing experiences for television are called third screens meaning that computer screens are the third major way we watch our content. Fourth screens are considered to be our smartphones, iPods, iPads, and mobile TV devices.
3) Before I came to college I very rarely watched TV shows or movies anywhere else but on my home TV. Now, after being in college for almost a whole year, I find myself rarely watching TV shows on an actual TV screen. Most of the time I will watch a movie that I have streamed through Netflix or Project Free TV. I also find myself watching shows that have already aired on Netflix because it gives me something to do in my free time.
4) When will the streaming of shows online overtake the sales of actual TVs and put the sales of television out of business?
Chapter 6:
ReplyDelete1.This chapter talks about the history Television and Cable and how they have come to be what they are today.
2.Philo Farnsworth transmitted the first electronic TV picture on September 7th, 1927. Farnsworth was challenged by RCA, the then world leader in broadcasting technology, in a patent battle, and Farnsworth later licensed these patents to RCA and AT&T for the commercial development of television. RCA then held a public demonstration in 1939 at the World’s Fair. The Big Three broadcasting networks (CBS, NBC, and ABC) began controlling programming in the mid-1900’s. By 2011, these networks saw a large decrease in popularity due to the introduction of cable television systems, VCRs, and DVD players.
Television and Cable have seen large programming trends. Some of the most popular and most watched genres watched on television are comedy, drama, daily news, and reality television.
3.Growing up, my parents did a really good job restricting how much TV I watched and what channels and shows I watched. This was definitely beneficial to me as a child because it sheltered me from a lot of the negative content that began appearing during that time. But as I got older and started staying home by myself a lot more, I started to watch more and more TV. While I don’t watch any and every TV show these days, there are definitely certain shows that I can’t stand to miss an episode of.
4.What new advancements are we going to see in the way people watch television shows in the coming future.
1. This chapter summarizes the creation and evolution of television and its incorporation into our everyday lives, including some of the legal obstacles television faced.
ReplyDelete2. “Three major historical developments in television’s early years helped shape it: (1)technological innovations and patent wars, (2) wresting control of content away from advertisers, and (3) the sociocultural impact pf the infamous quiz-show scandals” (196).
“The cable industry’s rapid rise to prominence was partly due to the shortcomings of broadcast television. Beyond improving signal reception in most communities, the cable era introduced narrowcasting-the providing of specialized programming for diverse and fragmented groups” (202).
“The internet has transformed the way many of us, especially younger generations, watch movies, TV, and cable programming. These new online viewing experiences are often labeled third screens, usually meaning that computer screens are the third major way we view content (movie screens and traditional TV sets are the first and second screens, respectively)” (207).
3. In general, I have never been particularly passionate about watching television shows, whether it is on an actual TV or on my computer. But I have many friends who are very passionate and heavily invested in the lives of fictional TV characters. They rely heavily on websites like Netflix and Hulu for those shows. The one or two shows that I love are very short seasons, such as BBC Sherlock, and don’t require me to use internet very frequently in order to view them.
4. My question: What will happen now that television and internet have consolidated?
Chapter 6
ReplyDelete1. This chapter focuses on the history of broadcast television and the development of cable, as well it focuses on the ways in which television companies are adapting to new technologies to provide for today’s viewer.
2. In the height of broadcast television when viewers watched content at its original air time content was to be censored, appropriate for all to watch, and was produced with the idea in mind as not to offend any possible viewers. In the era of cable, stations are now narrowcasting to smaller amount, but more committed watchers. As third and fourth screens have become a greater source of watching programs originally aired on TV, time shifting has risen to become one of the greater ways of viewing programs. Unlike previous times where television viewers would watch a program at its set air time, today consumers of television programs watch at times that are most convenient to them. To keep up with consumers, cable companies have begun providing video-on-demand services and allowing subscribers to view this content online.
3. I can’t remember a time when I didn’t enjoy sitting down to watch a movie with my family as a child or relaxing after school by watching tv. As I’ve gotten older I’ve definitely enjoyed the development of On Demand and Netflix. I rarely watch television shows at the time that they air, unless it’s a Bruins game.
4. What genre of television programming will become the popular trend next?
Chapter 6:
ReplyDelete1. Television is the largest mass medium today and has shifted its focus from mass audiences to personalized niches of groups as it delves further into the digital age.
2.
“But what will remain common ground on this shifting terrain is that television continues as our nation's chief storyteller. (p.233)
“Now with devices like the Roku box and gaming consoles that can stream programming directly to our television set, and newer television sets that are Internet ready, the TV has become one of the latest converged devices.” (p. 208)
“Attracting both advertisers and audiences, cable programs provide access to certain target audiences that cannot be guaranteed in broadcasting.” (P.203)
3. As I grew up, watching cartoons with my sisters most mornings was my favorite things to do, and I always anticipated renting movies from our local Blockbuster every Friday night when my older sister's would babysit us. However, as I grew older, I watched sorrowfully as the Blockbuster's in our city went out of business due to Netflix and Redbox, which I must admit, make me much happier.
4. How will further developments of TV convergence with the internet affect cable services in the future?
Television has transformed from a form of mass communication to an individual experience and is making the transition from cable to convergence.
ReplyDeleteThe networks of ABC, CBS and NBC had major control on programming in the early days of television, often playing LOP, “ least objectionable programming.” (195) This would attract large audiences due to its inoffensive programs. Cable began offering new formats of television that catered to smaller audiences with individual tastes. Now it is all about the viewer and their specific tastes. Convergence has caused television to be fragmented into different forms of viewership. Streaming online through Netflix and YouTube constitute a huge platform for television. With all its accommodations to individual taste, TV still remains one of the most accessible tools for mass media.
Netflix is one of the main ways I watch television and the ability to watch full seasons online, one episode after another, creates a highly addictive way of watching television shows. Orange is the New Black is an example of a Netflix original show that has it’s full seasons on the site.
Will the laptop ever fully replace the television set?
Chapter 6
ReplyDelete1. Chapter six discusses the development of television and cable and reviews the trends in television programming and its influence in the media.
2. Television was a rare commodity around 1948. Only one percent of American households had a television set, and the televisions that were sold then were far different than those sold today. Color television was first introduced in the mid 1950s and only a few shows broadcasted by NBC were shot in color. By the 1960s, television grew in popularity through mass media. Over time with the development of technology and the emergence of the internet, television began to converge with the internet, accessible through sights such as Hulu and Netflix. Eventually television grew so much in the media that it was assessable on not only computer screens but also technology mediums such as smartphones. Different television networks carry different TV series and some networks follow specific genres.
3. As a child my family did not have cable television, so I was limited to basic channels and VCR movie recordings. Now, my family does have cable and On Demand television, which is a more recent invention. Television has grown and is now one of the most popular mass mediums, with hundreds of channels and thousands of television shows. I do not watch a lot of television shows now that I am in college, and I don’t own a TV here are school, but if I do want to watch something I can view almost any show on the internet.
4. How will television continue to expand as a massive power in the media?
Chapter 6
ReplyDelete1.Television has grown from select programs on a few channels to a seemingly limitless options with multiple ways to access them.
2. TV began with its invention in the early 90’s with the discovery of iconoscope and the first electronic TV picture by Philo Farnswroth. The TV continued to be modified with the invention of the colour TV in the 50’s and the development of cable television with the large variety of shows it offered. It continued to change as networks began to control and manipulate advertisers and with the rigged quiz show scandals, ruining the prospect of major sponsors in TV and the trust people had in what they saw on the screen. Recently television has also expanded into home videos, “the third screen”, the use of a computer screen to view TV like YouTube and Hulu, and “the fourth screen”, viewing TV on mobile devices. Our taste in programs has also changed and varied from comedies like “I Love Lucy” in the 1950’s and “Modern Family” in the 2000s, dramas like “Studio One” in the 1940’s and “American Horror Story” in the 2000’s, news networks, and reality shows. Like most popular mediums, television has had its share of controversies and legal battles. Multiple rules and laws were put in place like The Telecommunications Act of 1996 and rules for the way programs are paid for.
3. As a college student, I find myself watching the majority of my television on Netflix instead of on TV. Although I have to wait to see the newest episodes of shows, for me, it is much nicer to be able to watch without commercials and watch it wherever I go. If I do watch TV it is to see something live like a sports game or the news.
4. Will there ever be a way to watch live TV from a mobile device or computer? Why isn't there already?
Chapter 6
ReplyDelete1. Like most forms of media, television has undergone major changes since its creation causing competition, aiding the convergence movement, and transforming the way people are entertained.
2. Broadcasting was threatened by the introduction of narrowcasting that came with the development of cable. People became able to watch programs that were targeted at them and people like them, instead of having to watch network programs that tried to please all audiences.
In the past TV had only been viewed on two types of screens: in theaters and on traditional television sets. More recently it has begun to be viewed on computers and smartphones or tablets, as could have been predicted by the trend of convergence of media forms onto these viewing platforms.
The newest trend in TV entertainment is reality television, in which the viewer can relate to the characters since they seem like regular people. The Real World, a show that followed a group of strangers, was the basis of this type of show and inspired shows like Survivor, Jersey Shore and Dancing with the Stars.
3. I grew up without having cable so when my family finally got it when I was in high school I was amazed by how many channels there were. I couldn’t believe that whole channels could be solely for animal related shows or for documentaries. While I was a bit overwhelmed at first, I found a few channels that showed programs that I was interested in, like the Discovery Channel and the Game Show Network. I found that I no longer had to put up with all the things I found boring on channels like NBC while I was waiting for Wheel of Fortune to come on, I could watch a channel that showed things I liked all the time.
4. Will the first and second screens become obsolete with the emergence of the third and fourth screens?
Chapter 6
ReplyDelete1.) The purpose of this chapter is to examine the life of television and explore its development as a mass medium.
2.) Chapter 6 begins with the origins of television, motion picture and the industry. Two revolutionary inventions of the 1880s (scanning disk and cathode ray tube) are to be held responsible for the foundation of the television, as together, they provided a basis for televised broadcasting. In 1927, the fist electronic picture is emitted. Unlike film, this electric emission allowed for pictures to be transmitted from one device to the next. Soon after, the first public demonstration of television was conducted in 1934. (Something I thought occurred much later on). As the chapter concludes it summarization of television's origins, it then leads into the market and commercial aspect of the industry. One particular piece of this section that caught my eye was the quiz show scandals. The 1956 Twenty one scandal is probably the best example of corporate powers buying of television executives in the name of gaining more revenue from advertisements. As in the case mentioned, Geritol (the corporation at the time) was able to enjoy record profits from ad revenue, as the profits made from commercials and sponsorships alike soared. As the chapter goes on the mention, not only the quiz show scandals create a poor image for the participating corporations and networks, thy also hurt the ideal of democracy though a new medium.
3.) When I was young I used to watch an average amount of television, a couple hours a night and maybe one more on the weekend. Since my sophomore year I have been free of t.v. and it's wonderful. One of my teachers used to say the second you stop watching t.v. you'll begin to notice yourself getting smarter. For me, this couldn't be more true. I have grown to become disgusted with television, mostly due to it's thin and mind numbing content, but also due to the advertising and commercial aspect. It really feels liberating to break free from the brain dead waves. Looking back, I would have loved to grow up without a television.
4.) How have corporate or state interests been conveyed through the television? Obviously not all of their messages are direct, and considering the majority of television is owned and therefore controlled by a hand full of powerful corporations, what content has been produced to weight the opinions, beliefs or attitudes of viewers?
6.) Television is The medium. It is the method of choice to not only tell a story but to also put on a show.
ReplyDeleteFrom cathode ray tubes to limitless amounts of SuperPac money swaying the general public in its choices for government representation. From entertainment, to news, and even educational opportunities television combines the story of a radio show with the presentation of a theater. Television has helped cause social uprising (Cesar Chavez and the UFW'S Thanksgiving Day documentary) and continues to inspire complacency while talking heads drone on to create shock value and even fear. The internet merging with television has created an environment where movies, tv shows, and anything else can be viewed on many devices including phones, tablets, and computers. Everything is now our television: the internet provides constant visuals and stories making the earliest televisions purchased by few wealthy families pale in comparison the technological abundance we have today.
Television is evil. It's the time-sink that's constantly spewing drama, action, and conflict twenty four hours a day. It's been so heavily commercialized that I don't even complain about the lack of quality programming (Anything with Bryan Cranston is an exception of course), constant advertisements, and endless ploys to entice the audience to spend money. It's pacifying. Sure I could read Paradise Lost to gain some new insight into Milton's ideology or I could watch that Futurama marathon. Television is much of the world's media compressed into one screen. During a technology fast, television was the one thing I didn't miss. It's the constant reminder that something unpleasant is in the world: whether that's good or not depends on how we use it.
How should our government handle television censorship issues and where does freedom of speech end when media is involved?
Fine reflections (so far) here, colleagues.
ReplyDeleteLet's REV it up in class,
Dr. W
Chapter 6
ReplyDelete1) Chapter 6 teaches us the many different generations of the television and its rise and fall in popularity and many different areas since the television mass media has come to life.
2) The television has had many different strong points since its beginning of existence. The changes include different programs being more popular than others. For example, ESPN took charge of the sports programming while major networks like CBS and ABC began to hold talk shows and popular shows. Some shows became very popular during a period of time but then dropped off. Quiz shows are a good example of the type of television programming that grabbed hold for a good time but then slowly let go of the grip they had on viewers. Finally, the convergence of the Internet is a large part of television popularity. Netflix, YouTube and other online sites that people can watch have become very popular now. This allows people to watch their favorite shows at any time.
3) The convergence of Television with the Internet has become the largest part of television for me. When I went to boarding school, I was not able to watch my favorite shows when they were being aired. Luckily, I was able to keep up with my favorite shows thanks to Netflix and other sites I could use.
4) Will television’s convergence with the Internet completely turn towards the Internet like Netflix’s series of House of Cards?
Chapter 6
ReplyDelete1. This chapter is about past, present, and future television.
2. From 1880 to 2014 the television has come a long way. We have come from a cathode ray tube to color TV to the quiz show scandal and cable television. IN 1955 the Quiz Show scandal hurt the promise of television greatly. America thought that the contestants actually knew the information and studied for years to compete but in reality they were all being told the answers by the studio network themselves. As television has later converged with the Internet the computer has become a multifaceted device. Since the year 2010 when Hulu launched there was officially TV on the go.
3. When I was younger the television was a huge part of my life. I was always watching new shows and trying to keep up with the latest episodes. Currently while in college and without a television in my room, my computer has become my TV with access to Netflix and Xfinity on demand online.
4. How will television change over the next decade? What will be the next improvement to the way we watch television?
Chapter 6
ReplyDelete1) This chapter is about the changes television has made and how it has become such a huge form of media in this current day and age.
2) The first picture ever transmitted to a TV was in 1930 by 21 year old Philo Farnsworth. Not only can we record any TV show we want and watch it whenever it is convenient for me, we can stream these shows through the internet on websites such as Netflix or Hulu Plus. The first small cable system was called CATV. These systems served about 10% of the country and contained only 12 channels. These early cable systems, unlike the radio, relied on wires. In 1977 only 14% of the United States received cable in their home. By 1985 the percentage was up to 46 and by 1997 all the basic cable channels were in most homes in the US. The new online viewing experiences for television are called third screens meaning that computer screens are the third major way we watch our content. Fourth screens are considered to be our smartphones, iPods, iPads, and mobile TV devices.
3) Before I came to college, I followed several shows including Grey’s Anatomy, Scandal, Revenge, Law and Order SVU, and Once Upon A Time. Now that I am at school, however, I have had to cut down on my TV consumption a lot. The only shows I make time for are Grey’s Anatomy, Scandal, and re-run marathons of SVU when I have free time and they’re on. I rarely watch television shows on my computer, but only because I don’t have Netflix. If I did, I am 99.9% positive that I would watch it all the time.
4) Will television begin to expand as a massive form of media, or will it be replaced by online streaming of television shows?
Ch. 6
ReplyDelete1) This chapter explains the power of television and how it has grown as a medium over the last 80-90 years.
2) The first TV transmission was in 1927 by 21 year old Philo Farnsworth. Only seven years later was the first public TV demo. In 1954 the color TV was made standard despite CBS's not wanting it. Congress creates a public broadcasting network, PBS, that us still around today. Today, we have TV on the go in our hands our on our computers. Just 60 years ago people were watching TV in black and white on massive TV's and nowadays a lot of people have access to live TV from phones or computers.
3) As a kid I was obsessed with TV and would sneak around the house in the morning just to watch some cartoons and eat some captain crunch. My mom despises TV and would always tell us kids how when she was a child they only had 2-3 channels. Back then it was much more of a family event because that was all they had, but with the options we have today it is very hard for families to agree on what to watch. I know, with my family, it is nearly impossible to watch a movie that everyone likes. Well, everyone usually agrees except for my mom... she prefers the hallmark channel.
4) When will TV's come standard with online capabilities?
1. The Television and Cable changed the way everything is communicated in life, we no longer sit around radio’s to hear current events, and these two inventions transformed the whole world and how we communicate.
ReplyDelete2. “Broadcast Networks Today may sent cable developing original programming, but in the beginning network television actually stole most of its programming and business ideas from radio” (P.195). This was the first time that something was so closely stolen from another invention in the media industry, this created the way people now use spin offs of other peoples ideas. “Beginning in 1985, cable companies began introducing new viewing options for their customers. Pay-per-view channels came first…”(P.205). This was the first step in really enhancing the money making ability that there is in Television. Now we have things like On Demand that all started from the idea of Pay-per-view. “the must-carry rules required all cable operators to assign channels to and carry all local TV broadcasts on their systems”(P.219). This was the final low for the radio broadcast, now that you have the ability to get your local news on the television, there was no need for the radio updates in your home because you could just watch it on your television.
3. Television and Cable have had the biggest impact on me in my life. I love movies and TV shows, I spend a lot of time watching them more than any other technology. I feel I can follow movies and shows easier than a book.
4. What will be the next spin off from the Television and Cable to make these inventions a thing of the past?
Chapter Six
ReplyDelete1.This chapter explores television from its early technological development to how cable and TV affect our society today.
2.The period from the late 1950s to the end of the 1970s has been proclaimed as the network era. The first small cable system was CATV – which stands for community antenna television. By 1997, cable had a larger audience than broadcasting networks. Today, television has converged with the Internet creating what is called a third screen. This third screen is able to view movies, TV, and cable programming on the Internet. We have also advanced to a fourth screen with devices such as iPads and iPhones that allow us to view movies and TV anywhere we go.
3.My parents always tell me stories of how they only had one time (per week or even per year) to watch their specific television shows. If their show was on 7 PM on a Wednesday, then that's the only opportunity they had to watch it. When A Christmas Story came on cable TV, it only came once a year around the holidays and everyone sat down to watch it. Now-a-days, we have many options to watch TV whenever we want. DVR lets us record shows and watch them later, and it even lets us pause our show. But even past the TV screen, we have laptops, iPads and iPhones that we can watch movies and TV shows on through the Internet.
4.Will the Internet eventually knock out cable TV?
Chapter 6
ReplyDelete1. This chapter discusses how television has developed over the years and what it’s like on a more personal level.
2. The first TV transmission was in 1927, since then TV has progressed significantly. From multiple channels to DVR to Hulu, the numbers of ways that one is able to watch their television programs has exploded the possibilities are endless. No one needs to worry about missing their program at a certain time anymore because there are so many options that they can use to catch up. Everything is done at the watchers convenience today.
3. When I was younger my family didn’t have real cable because it was too expensive to get it wired to our house, I remember only having a few of the lower channels that we bootlegged from another near by house. It wasn’t until recently that we got Dish, since then I’ve noticed a significant increase in the amount of TV that we watch. Because we have DVR we can watch everything on our own time and the increased amount of channels that we have also has made us watch movies more often.
4. What will be the next big thing to hit television?
Catching up here - good work posse!
ReplyDeleteRev,
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Chapter 6:
ReplyDelete1.The thesis of the chapter is the change of in the nature of TV from a mass media to a personalized form of entertainment.
2.TV began its journey in 1934 when it was first demoed to the public, followed by antenna in the late 1940s to make the real, maybe, debut of TV in different states across the country. Later in the 1960s and 70s the PBS and Cable TV took over the medium. With cable TV being affordable and available to many houses the percentage of TV ownership jumped from 14 to 46, making the TV more personal to the viewers with prime-time viewing. In 2010 the Hulu debute made the TV yet more personal with the ability to watch it "On the Go" thanks to smartphones, laptops, and tablets.
3.TV was one of best friends during my childhood up to nine years old me. I used to watch Tom and Jerry every morning, and watch their re-runs in the afternoon. Friday night was exceptional because I used to watch WWF, now WWE, with my father. Growing up the small screen stopped being interesting, and now the smaller screen of my laptop makes my theatre where I watch every show I like either online or CD's or even downloading sometimes. On my laptop, I have the full five seasons of Breaking Bad as well as the three seasons of Game of Thrones, and of course, all eight seasons of Dexter. I love how personal watching TV has become.
4.Will there be a next thing for TV? I think it is barely standing with all the choices that a viewer can pick from to watch a show that is supposed to be watched on TV.