Class17 Broadcast

Extra credit opportunity:

• Broadcast PioneersBroadcast Pioneers event at Annenberg Hall TONIGHT!

• Reporters, editors and executives from 6ABC and other broadcast outlets.

• From 6 until 8 pm in the Annenberg Hall atrium.

• Write a one page description of the event and what you got out of it. Due in hard copy by 3/30.

Extra credit opportunity:

• “The Internet and Civic The Internet and Civic EngagementEngagement” event at the Liacouras Center on Thursday (3/25).

• Todd Gitlin @ 1:00, panel discussion from 2 to 3.

• Write a one page description of the event and what you got out of it. Due in hard copy by 4/1.

So you want to be on television, eh?

Why?

Television reaches a mass audience.

98.5 million Americans watched.

And the 2004 Super Bowl was broadcast around the world.

More than 540,000 people complained to the FCC.

Why did Janet Jackson’s boobgate cause a stir?

Technology:

• The event was recorded immediately and clips were aired on stations around the world for days/ weeks/ years.

• The Internet disseminated the images and video.

• YouTube made the video a phenomenon.

When television was first introduced, it was ephemeral.

It was on air, and then gone. If you missed it, you missed it forever.

In the old days, we might not have even seen the wardrobe

malfunction.

It happened so fast!

How is TV different from print?

How is TV different from print?

• Moving images.

How is TV different from print?

• Moving images.

• Sound.

How is TV different from print?

• Moving images.

• Sound.

• TV is a passive activity.

How is TV different from print?

• Moving images.

• Sound.

• TV is a passive activity.

• Traditional TV was programmed so that TV controlled your viewing habits (whereas, you can grab a print publication anytime).

Important dates in TV history:

• Philo FarnsworthPhilo Farnsworth transmits moving images in 1927, thus inventing TV.

• RCA shows off their TV at the 1939 World’s Fair.

• The first use of cable television arrives in 1949.

• Satellite programming begins in 1975.• The Fox Network started in 1986.

By the mid-1950’s, television was ubiquitous.

And it’s influences were enormous!

Why do you know who these

people are?

How did TV shape

American culture?

Good night

and good luck.

How many of you watch the network news now?

At least once every day?

Morning shows? At 6:30? Late night?

Even every once and a while?

Why?

Why not local news?

What is the difference between local news and

national news?

What is the difference between local news and

national news?

National news tries to take specific events

and explain them in-depthexplain them in-depth.

How did we get to where we are now?

• Stations that transmit over airwaves are regulated Stations that transmit over airwaves are regulated by the FCCby the FCC.

• Cable systems use, well, cables. • CATV - community antenna televisioncommunity antenna television, small town

operations that tapped into major market stations through antennae and cables. This is the root of the modern cable system.

• SatellitesSatellites began replacing antennae in the mid-1970’s, and led to the invention of subscriber-based television.

Until the arrival of the FOX network in 1986FOX network in 1986, the big three networks nearly had a

monopoly.

The originals: ABCABC, CBSCBS and NBCNBC

Then came cable.

And the demassification continued.

So what?

Demassification.

We have SO many options now.

Now?

• You have local stationslocal stations.

• You have network servicesnetwork services that provide service to the local stations.

• You have local cable systemslocal cable systems.

• You have national cable networksnational cable networks that service local cable systems.

• And Comcast is taking over the country.

And there are more than 300 cable networks.

The two-tier system:

• There are NETWORKSNETWORKS that generategenerate content.

• There are LOCAL STATIONSLOCAL STATIONS and

LOCAL CABLE SYSTEMSLOCAL CABLE SYSTEMS that distributedistribute the content.

(so you have generators and distributors)

News?LOCAL NEWSLOCAL NEWS:

• Focuses on a geographic region.

• Covers a wide spectrum of events - sports, news, weather, etc.

NETWORK NEWSNETWORK NEWS:• Serves a national

audience.• Focuses on big

stories and trends.

CABLE NETWORK CABLE NETWORK NEWSNEWS: 24/7 coverage of world events.

TV lingo

• VHFVHF - Very high frequency (channels 2-13).

• UHFUHF - Ultra-high frequency (14-83)

• AffiliateAffiliate - a local station with network connections.

• O & OO & O - owned and operated station (a local station that is owned by the network.

• VODVOD - video on demand.

VODVOD is the future.

But what does that mean?

The ramifications of VOD:

• You can watch television anywhereanywhere.

• You can watch television any timeany time.

• You don’t have to watch what is on; your options are almost endlessoptions are almost endless.

• With VOD, you won’t have to watch commercialscommercials ever again (in theory).

If people aren’t watching commercials, how

will networks survive?

Commercials = moneyCommercials = money

Money = more TVMoney = more TV

No, really.

They are looking for ways to

make money now that the old system is flying out the

window.

How does that affect you, the future journalists of the world?

Journalism is a business.

Ugh. It makes me sick just thinking about it.

People are slow to change their habits.

And that is why we still have local broadcast news and the evening

network news.

Local broadcast news won’t be going away.

FOX29 keeps increasing their local news production.

But the way that broadcast news generates revenue will

likely change.

The same goes for newspapers. And magazines. And radio. And the Internet.

Joel Stein proposes that product placement is the future.

Either way, broadcast news is a constant battle for eyes.

Next class:How do you know what is

good broadcast journalism?

It’s getting harder and harder to find.

The principles of journalism:

• Journalism’s first obligation is to the truth.

• Our loyalty is to the citizens.

• Journalism is a discipline of verification.

• We must remain independent.

• We must be an independent monitor of power.

The principles, part II:

• We provide a forum for public criticism and compromise.

• We have a duty to make the significant interesting and relevant.

• We must be comprehensive.

• Journalists must have a conscience.

• Citizens are a vital part of journalism.