Reading guide- week 13 Flashcards
In the early days of TV, who produced most prime-time programs? What led to the end of this system of funding?
-most network prime-time programs were produced by advertising agencies that retained control over their content. After the 1959 scandal that followed the discovery that some quiz shows had been “fixed”, the networks reasserted their control over programming.
What is time shifting? What technology is associated with time shifting?
The VCR encouraged time shifting - playing back programs at times other than when they are aired.
What are the three sources of programing for local TV stations?
• Production
o Responsible for providing the programming that is ultimately viewed by the TV audience
• Distribution
o Handled by the TV networks and cable and syndication companies
• Exhibition
o The element in the system that most people are most familiar with – the responsibility of local TV stations.
Was cable a friend or a foe for public TV? Please explain your answer.
There was strong competition from the growing cable industry. (pg. 262) cable reached more than 68%
of the population. Many cable systems were providing more than 100 channels of television to their subscribers. The growing popularity of cable channels further eroded the audiences f the traditional TV
networks. Advertising revenue also grew, topping the $11 billion mark in 1999. By the turn of the century, it was obvious that the cable industry was a full-fledged competitor of traditional broadcasting
What are the five criticisms of how rating data is gathered that deserve closer attention?
- (1) it is possible that the type of person who agrees to participate may have viewing habits different from those of the viewer who declines to participate.
- (2) in the case of the Nielsen reports (based on about 55% of the diaries sent out), it is possible that “returners” behave differently from “nonreturners”.
- (3) people who know that their viewing is being measured may change their behavior
- (4) ratings companies admit that they have a problem measuring the viewing of certain groups. (i.e minorities -particularly blacks and hispanics- may be underrepresented in the ratings companies’ samples.)
- (5) the stations that are being measured can distort the measurement process by engaging in contests and special promotions or by running unusual or sensational programs in an attempt to “hype” the ratings.
What are the three things by Dr. Hall outlines about the content of the popular TV show “The Bachelor?”
(pg 282)
She argued that The Bachelor is a modern fairy tale. The man is Prince Charming. The competition itself, with the lavish trimmings and carefree lifestyle, is the Big Ball. All of the women are vying to be
Cinderella. More over, like many fairy tales, there is an element of melodrama.
-vicarious experiences
-patriarchy in the programming
-theme of domestication
What are the four ways that men and women are portrayed differently on cooking shows?
(pg 291)
- (1) men are more likely to be portrayed as professional cooks who prepare complicated dishes and educate their audiences about food-related topics, whereas women are portrayed as approachable, domestic cooks who prepare food for friends and family members. males refer to their expertise/experience, women often don’t make such statements. male cooks wear chefs jacket, women often casually dressed.
- (2) when males cook on Food Network, generally for leisurely entertainment. When males enter kitchen, usually for some special event. In contrast, females are typically shown preparing weekday family meals.
- (3) Third theme is to portray cooking as a journey. Both male/female hosts go on the road during this type of program, females host more likely to act as practical, budget-conscious trip advisors while male hosts are searching for “real” american food to satisfy their manly appetites. makes males seem more like adventurers, females more like thrifty homemakers.
- (4)A final theme portrays cooking as a competitive contest. Male chefs take on the traditional male role of athletic as they compete against others and against the clock. Portraying cooking as an activity that depends on speed, cunning, power, and stamina runs counter to the traditional feminine model in which cooking is nurturing, democratic, and family centered. It is acknowledged that male and female contestants compete in these programs, a fact that suggests a more non-gendered division of labor.
Please describe the structure of cable TV. Be sure to list and describe the three components of a cable Tv system.
(pg. 294)Cable systems are structured differently than those of conventional TV. There are 3 main components in a cable system:
(1) head end – consists of the antenna and related equipment that receive signals from distant TV stations or other programming services and process these signals so that they may be sent to subscribers homes.
(2) The distribution system – consists of the actual cables that deliver the signals to subscribers. Can be buried or hung on telephone poles. Main cable (called the trunk) has several feeder cables, which travel down side streets or to other outlying areas. Amps installed along the distribution system boost the strength of the signals as it comes from the head end.
(3) House drop – section of cable that connects the feeder cable to the subscribers TV set. Drops can be one-way or two-way . fiber optic cables make it possible to carry 500+ channels.
Please list and describe the three main sources of revenue for national cable services.
(1) advertising – some support themselves entirely thru ads
(2) carriage fees – charging some cable networks (i.e MTV, ESPN, etc)
(3) subscription fees – cable co. pass these charges along to their customers.
Please describe the structure of satellite TV. Be sure to list and describe the five components.
(pg. 297 – see figure 12-4)
(1) content providers, such as ESPN, or local broadcast stations, who send their signals to
(2) a broadcast center, which takes the programming and transmits it to
(3) geosynchronous communication satellites (the satellite is one whose orbit keeps it over the same spot on Earth), which receive the programs from the broadcast center and send them back down to
(4) a small satellite receiving dish, which picks up the signal and transmits it to
(5) a satellite receiver, which transforms the signals so that it can be viewed on a conventional TV set.
Please define the term microcasting.
Sending a message to a small group of interested people
What is the reputation of GoDaddy.com? And how have they used this reputation to market their products?
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What are two approaches used by advertisers to get audiences to consume commercials they want to actively watch?
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What is a valuable piece of information that mobile providers hold? How can this be used by marketers?
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