Programming for TV, Radio & The Internet: Strategy, Development & Evaluation

by Gross; Lynne

• ISBN13: 9780240806822
• ISBN10: 0240806824
• Edition: 2nd
• Format: Nonspecific Binding
• Copyright: 2005-02-24
• Publisher: Routledge

Summary

Where do program ideas come from? How are concepts developed into saleable productions? Who do you talk to about getting a show produced? How do you schedule shows on the lineup? What do you do if a series is in trouble? The answers to these questions, and many more, can be found in this comprehensive, in-depth look at the roles and responsibilities of the electronic media programmer. Topics include: Network relationships with affiliates, the expanded market of syndication, sources of programming for stations and networks, research and its role in programming decisions, fundamental appeals to an audience and what qualities are tied to success, outside forces that influence programming, strategies for launching new programs or saving old ones. Includes real-life examples taken from the authors' experiences, and 250+ illustrations!

Table of Contents

About the Authors	xv
Preface	xvii
The History of Programming	1	(28)
The Need for Programming	1	(1)
The Early Days of Programming	2	(1)
The Beginning of Network Programming: A New Lease for Radio	3	(2)
Radio's Golden Age: The Advertising Agency Years	3	(2)
The Introduction of Television and Its Effect on Radio	5	(1)
Programming Cycles and Trends	6	(1)
Radio Redux: The Switch from Shows to Formats	6	(1)
Television's Golden Age of Drama	6	(3)
Quiz Shows Take Center Stage	9	(2)
The Television Networks Take Over Programming	11	(1)
The Development of Public Broadcasting	12	(1)
The Financial Interest and Domestic Syndication Rule	13	(1)
The Rise of Independent Stations and Syndicators	14	(1)
The Explosion of Cable	14	(2)
Syndication in Radio	16	(1)
New Networks with Targeted and Niche Programming	16	(1)
The Quest for a Young Demographic	17	(1)
Viewing Patterns and Changing Audience Attention Spans	17	(2)
The Decline of Longform Programming	19	(1)
Supercharged Programming Choices: The Internet	20	(1)
New Media Recording Technologies	21	(1)
The Rise of Consumer-supported Media	22	(1)
The Video Game Explosion	23	(1)
Regulations	23	(2)
Globalization	25	(1)
Exercises	26	(1)
References/Notes	27	(2)
Sources of Television Programming	29	(22)
Beyond the Idea---into the ``Deep Pockets''	29	(1)
Major Production Companies	30	(3)
Independent Production Companies	33	(5)
Foreign Production Sources	38	(1)
Networks	39	(1)
Stations	40	(1)
Buyers	41	(1)
Syndicators	42	(1)
Advertisers	43	(1)
In-House Production	44	(2)
Members of the Public	46	(1)
Newspapers, Magazines, and Books	46	(2)
Managers, Agents, and Stars	48	(2)
Exercises	50	(1)
References/Notes	50	(1)
Sources of Radio and Internet Programming	51	(18)
Sources of Programming for Radio	51	(12)
Syndicator/Network Programming	52	(1)
The Purpose of Today's Radio Networks / Syndicators	53	(1)
From Town to City to Metropolis and Syndication	54	(2)
Sources of Music Programming	56	(3)
Sources of News Programming	59	(1)
Sources of Talk Radio Programming	59	(3)
Sources of Other Programming	62	(1)
Sources of Satellite Radio Programming	62	(1)
Sources of Low-Power FM Programming	63	(1)
Sources of Internet Programming	63	(4)
Every Computer a Potential Source of Programming	64	(1)
Obstacles to Internet Mass Usage	64	(1)
Traditional Media Sources	64	(2)
Internet-Only Sources	66	(1)
Private vs. Public Sources of Programming	66	(1)
Exercises	67	(1)
References/Notes	67	(2)
Development	69	(30)
Television Development	70	(15)
Securing the Rights	70	(1)
Attaching a Star, Writer, or Showrunner During the Development Process	71	(1)
The Role of Agents	71	(1)
Development Deals	72	(1)
Getting Ready for the Pitch: Creating a Log Line	72	(1)
Writing an Effective Log Line	73	(1)
Getting a Meeting	74	(1)
The Pitch Meeting	75	(2)
``Laying Pipe'' for a Pass	77	(1)
Fundamentals of the Deal	77	(1)
Public Television Development	78	(1)
Syndication Development	78	(2)
Station Development	80	(1)
The Pilot	81	(1)
Development Ratios	82	(1)
Testing	83	(1)
The Decision	83	(1)
Globalization	84	(1)
Radio Development	85	(7)
Developing a Format	85	(1)
Management and Consultants	86	(2)
Developing Programming	88	(1)
Profit and Other-Than-Profit Motives	89	(1)
Satellite Radio Development	89	(2)
Public Radio Development	91	(1)
Internet Development	92	(5)
History of Internet Development	92	(1)
Traditional Developers Adapt to the Internet	93	(2)
A New Venue for Independent Developers	95	(2)
Exercises	97	(1)
References/Notes	98	(1)
Testing	99	(24)
Television Testing	99	(11)
Awareness Testing	100	(1)
Sampling	100	(2)
Focus Groups	102	(2)
Minitheater Research	104	(2)
Cable-Based Research	106	(1)
Telephone Research	106	(3)
Station Testing	109	(1)
Public Broadcasting	109	(1)
Radio Testing	110	(4)
Sampling	110	(1)
Testing Methodology	111	(1)
Research Areas	112	(2)
Public Radio	114	(1)
Internet Testing	114	(3)
Testing (Or Not) Simulcast Content	115	(1)
Testing Archived and Independently Produced Content	115	(1)
Testing User Friendliness	116	(1)
Does the Research Work?	117	(3)
Exercises	120	(1)
References/Notes	121	(2)
Elements of Successful Programming	123	(38)
Television Programming	123	(27)
Programming Objectives	124	(6)
The Search for a Successful Formula	130	(2)
Industry Professionals Weigh In	132	(2)
Key Elements for Success	134	(16)
Radio Programming	150	(5)
Programming Objectives	150	(1)
Fundamental Appeals to an Audience	151	(2)
Qualities Tied to Success	153	(2)
Internet Programming	155	(4)
Freshness	155	(1)
Targeting Content	156	(1)
Consistency	157	(1)
Innovation	158	(1)
Branding	158	(1)
Exercises	159	(1)
References/Notes	160	(1)
Influences on Television Programming	161	(28)
External Influences on Television	161	(17)
Station Influence	162	(1)
Advertisers	163	(1)
The Family Friendly Programming Forum	164	(1)
Pressure Groups	165	(2)
The Religious Right	167	(1)
Timing	168	(1)
The Media	169	(2)
Academic and Nonprofit Studies	171	(1)
The Government	171	(7)
Internal Influences on Television	178	(8)
The Sales Department	178	(1)
The Finance Department	179	(1)
The Broadcast Standards and Practices Department	180	(4)
The Top Management	184	(1)
The Promotion, Marketing and Research Divisions	185	(1)
Exercises	186	(1)
References/Notes	187	(2)
Influences on Radio and Internet Programming	189	(26)
Influences on Radio Programming	189	(13)
Internal Influences on Radio	189	(4)
External Influences on Radio	193	(9)
Influences on Internet Programming	202	(10)
Internal Influences on Internet Content	202	(3)
External Influences on Internet Content	205	(7)
Exercises	212	(1)
References/Notes	213	(2)
Scheduling Strategies for Television	215	(24)
Television Scheduling	215	(22)
Fitting the Show to the Available Audience	216	(1)
Dayparting	216	(2)
Launching the Show: The First Strategy	218	(3)
Tentpoling	221	(1)
Hammocking	221	(1)
Counterprogramming	222	(3)
Bridging and Supersizing	225	(1)
Blunting	226	(2)
Stacking	228	(1)
Stunting	229	(1)
Crossprogramming	230	(1)
Theming	231	(1)
Stripping	232	(1)
Changing a Show's Time Slot	232	(1)
Overexposure	233	(1)
Rerunning and Repurposing	234	(1)
Boosting the Audience in Sweep Periods	235	(1)
Patience	236	(1)
Exercises	237	(1)
References/Notes	238	(1)
Scheduling Strategies for Radio and the Internet	239	(12)
Commercial Radio Scheduling	239	(5)
The Clock	239	(4)
Dayparting	243	(1)
Launching	244	(1)
Satellite Radio Scheduling	244	(1)
Public Radio Scheduling	245	(2)
Internet Scheduling	247	(2)
Exercises	249	(1)
References/Notes	249	(2)
Program Evaluation	251	(22)
Television	251	(10)
Nielsen	252	(9)
Commercial Radio	261	(3)
Arbitron	262	(1)
Radar	263	(1)
The Internet	264	(3)
Do the Ratings Work and Do Samples Sample?	267	(5)
Variables That Affect Rating Accuracy	267	(2)
Rating Techniques	269	(1)
Studies and Investigations	269	(1)
Programming Aberrations	270	(1)
How Programmers Should Use Ratings	270	(2)
Exercises	272	(1)
References/Notes	272	(1)
Changing and Canceling Programs	273	(18)
Television	273	(11)
Unsatisfactory Ratings	273	(1)
Exhaustion	274	(1)
A Lack of Focus	275	(1)
Social Changes	276	(1)
Aging Demographics	276	(1)
The Wrong Time Period	277	(1)
Excessive Relocation	277	(1)
A Lack of Awareness	278	(1)
Bringing on the Understudy	278	(1)
The Desire for Something New	278	(1)
Programming Options	279	(4)
Giving a Cancellation Notice	283	(1)
Radio	284	(4)
Adjusting Program Elements	284	(2)
Network Changes	286	(1)
Dealing with Unwanted Changes	287	(1)
Internet	288	(2)
Is It Worth the Trouble?	288	(1)
TMI: Too Much Information	289	(1)
Facelifts and Add-ons	289	(1)
Exercises	290	(1)
References/Notes	290	(1)
Programming Ethics	291	(18)
The Meaning of Ethics	291	(6)
Ethics and Illegality	292	(2)
Ethics in Programming Decisions and Business Practices	294	(1)
Ethics and Lying	295	(2)
Ethical Guidelines	297	(1)
Considering Ethics	298	(1)
Case Histories: Actual Incidents	298	(7)
Checkbook Journalism	299	(1)
Make the Deal, but Don't Close It	300	(1)
An On-Air Murder Confession	300	(1)
Sex in Public Places	301	(1)
Sharing the Wealth	301	(1)
Who Is to Blame?	301	(1)
Anonymous Complaints at E!	301	(1)
A Suicide on TV	302	(1)
Images of the Iraqi War	302	(1)
The Right to Privacy	303	(1)
First Amendment vs. the Sixth Amendment	303	(1)
Entertainment Programming Ethics	304	(1)
A Series of Ethical Dilemmas	305	(2)
References/Notes	307	(2)
Glossary	309	(8)
Index	317