Broadcasting in America A Survey of Electronic Media

by Head, Sydney W; Spann, Thomas D.; McGregor, Michael A.

• ISBN13: 9780205555345
• ISBN10: 0205555349
• Edition: 9th
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2000-09-15
• Publisher: Pearson

Summary

The best-selling text in the field for nearly 40 years, "Broadcasting in America" offers authoritative coverage of electronic media. While taking a domestic focus, the text also offers an entire chapter on issues affecting international broadcasting. The text' s multidisciplinary perspective enables students to examine the role of electronic media in economics, law, history, and social sciences. In addition, the authors provide the most up-to-date information on broadcasting trends, including wireless communication.

Table of Contents

Introducing Electronic Media

The Information Superhighway

The Players

Some Essential Terms

Back to Basics

From Radio to Television

Cultural Precedents

Technological Precedents

Wireless Communication

Emergence of Broadcasting

Broadcasting Becomes an Industry

Government Regulation

Depression Years, 1929-1937

Early Radio Programs

Radio in World War II, 1939-1945

Re-1948 TV Development

Growing Pains: Channels, Color, Networks

Golden Age of Television, 1948-1957

Radio's Response

Cable and Newer Media

Emergence of Cable

Cable Becomes a Major Player

Niche Services

Electronics Revolution

Consumer Media

Broadcasting: Changing Course

Sorting It Out

How Electronic Media Work

Electromagnetism

Radio and Audio Waves

Information, Formats, and Modulation

Wave Propagation

Mutual Interference

AM Stations

FM Stations

Electronic Pictures

TV Channels

Analog TV Transmission

TV Reception

Solid-State Receivers

Cable Systems

Relays, Recording, and the Digital Revolution

Terrestrial Relays

Satellite Relays

Analog Sound Recording

Analog Video Recording

Digital Signal Processing

Digital Recording

Digital TV Transmission

Digital Radio

Networking and Switching

The Internet

Commercial Operations

The Basics

Broadcast Stations

Broadcast TV Networks

Cable

Cable Program Services

Advertising Basics

Advertising Rates

Sale of Advertising

Advertising Standards

Subscription-Fee Revenue

Personnel

Investment, Profit, and Loss

Critique: Bottom-Line Mentality

Noncommercial Services

From Educational Radio to "Public" Broadcasting

National Organizations

Public Stations

Economics

TV Program Sources

Noncommercial TV Programs

Noncommercial Radio Programs

Changing Roles

Programs and Programming Basics

Program Costs

Syndication

Program Types

Entertainment Program Sources

News Sources

Sports Program Sources

Network Schedule Strategies

Local Schedule Strategies

Program Promotion

Programs: Network, Syndicated, Local

Prime-Time Network TV Entertainment

Non-Prime-Time Network TV Entertainment

Network TV Sports

Children's Programs

Network TV News and Public-Affairs Programs

TV Syndicated Programs

Radio Network and Syndicated Programs

Locally Produced TV Programs

Local Radio Programs

Internet Programming

Program Critique

Ratings

Ratings Business

Collecting Data

Sampling

Determining Ratings and Shares

Use and Abuse of Ratings

Broadcast Audiences

Cable Audiences

VCR Audiences

Measuring Internet Use

Other Applied Research

Effects

Developing Effects Research

News

World Events

Politics

Government

Entertainment

Violence

Advertising

Regulation and Licensing

Federal Jurisdiction

Communication Act

FCC Basics

Broadcast Licensing

Operations

Renewal

Enforcement

Cable

Other Electronic Media

Deregulation

Other Regulation

Constitutional Issues

First Amendment

Broadcasting's Limited Rights

First Amendment Status of Other Electronic Media

Things You Can't Say

Obscenity and Indecency

Ownership

Political Access

Public Access

Serving Children

Copyright

Changing Perspectives

Global View

Controlling Philosophies

Pluralistic Trend

Deregulation

Access

Economics and Geography

Programs

Transborder Broadcasting

International Satellites

Cable and Newer Media

Bibliography

Index

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