Television (TV), the electronic delivery of moving images and sound from a source to a receiver. By extending the senses of vision and hearing beyond the limits of physical distance, television has had a considerable influence on society. Conceived in the early 20th century as a possible medium for education and interpersonal communication, it became by mid-century a vibrant broadcast medium, using the model of broadcast radio to bring news and entertainment to people all over the world. Television is now delivered in a variety of ways: “over the air” by terrestrial radio waves (traditional broadcast TV); along coaxial cables (cable TV); reflected off of satellites held in geostationary Earth orbit (direct broadcast satellite, or DBS, TV); streamed through the Internet; and recorded optically on digital video discs (DVDs) and Blu-ray discs.[1]
In the early years of television, losses were common in the industry due to the high costs involved and the relatively low number of sets owned in the U.S.. Profits grew as the market expanded, though, and the size of the network market peaked in 1986. At that time, competition from cable TV, Pay Per View TV and VCRs began to heavily cut into market share. The big three broadcast networks had a 91% share of prime time audiences during the 1978/9 season. This dropped to 75% in the 1986/7 season, and further to 61% in 1993/4.
In the early years of television, losses were common in the industry due to the high costs involved and the relatively low number of sets owned in the U.S.. Profits grew as the market expanded, though, and the size of the network market peaked in 1986. At that time, competition from cable TV, Pay Per View TV and VCRs began to heavily cut into market share. The big three broadcast networks had a 91% share of prime time audiences during the 1978/9 season. This dropped to 75% in the 1986/7 season, and further to 61% in 1993/4.
Cable TV was developed very early on and began to be used in the 1950s as a way to expand the reach of network television in areas that had problems receiving broadcast signals, prompted by the desire of businesses to sell televisions in their area. In the 1960s cable stations began to import alternative broadcasts into new markets, fragmenting network reach. The networks demanded FCC regulation of the industry and this regulation slowed growth until the 1970s, when cable TV saw phenomenal growth.[2]
TV FUN FACTS
1. The inventor of the television would not let his own children watch TV. He once said to his son “There’s nothing on it worthwhile, and we’re not going to watch it in this household, and I don’t want it in your intellectual diet.” – Philo T Farnsworth.
2. In 2008, the cost of a 30-second advertisement was $2.7 million in the Super Bowl broadcast. It is the world’s most costly airtime.
3. British show Top Gear is the most watched television show in the world, with an estimated 350 million weekly viewers in 170 countries.
4. Most people dream in color, but those that grew up watching black and white television often dream in black and white.
5. Queen Elizabeth II has launched her own YouTube channel, fifty years after she first addressed the UK public on TV on Christmas morning.
6. The first couple shown in bed together on prime time US TV were Fred and Wilma Flintstone.
7. It has been calculated that the average American child sees about 13,000 deaths on television between the ages of five and 14.
[1] https://www.britannica.com/technology/television-technology
[2]https://library.duke.edu/specialcollections/scriptorium/adaccess/tv-history.html
1. The inventor of the television would not let his own children watch TV. He once said to his son “There’s nothing on it worthwhile, and we’re not going to watch it in this household, and I don’t want it in your intellectual diet.” – Philo T Farnsworth.
2. In 2008, the cost of a 30-second advertisement was $2.7 million in the Super Bowl broadcast. It is the world’s most costly airtime.
3. British show Top Gear is the most watched television show in the world, with an estimated 350 million weekly viewers in 170 countries.
4. Most people dream in color, but those that grew up watching black and white television often dream in black and white.
5. Queen Elizabeth II has launched her own YouTube channel, fifty years after she first addressed the UK public on TV on Christmas morning.
6. The first couple shown in bed together on prime time US TV were Fred and Wilma Flintstone.
7. It has been calculated that the average American child sees about 13,000 deaths on television between the ages of five and 14.
[1] https://www.britannica.com/technology/television-technology
[2]https://library.duke.edu/specialcollections/scriptorium/adaccess/tv-history.html
Ionut-Marian Ionescu
Marian is a romanian volunteer in Praxis and is involved in the world television day campaign.
