A Companion to Television

Janet Wasko, Eileen R. Meehan, Janet Wasko, Eileen R. Meehan

• Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell
• Year: 2019
• ISBN:
  9781119269458
• Edition: 2
• Topic: Medien & darstellende Kunst
• Subtopic: Fernsehgeschichte & -kritik

The latest edition of the acclaimed volume on television studies, featuring new original essays from leading scholars in the field

Although the digital age has radically altered the media and communications landscape worldwide, television continues to play a significant part of our lives. From its earliest beginnings through to the present day, television and its influence has been the subject of extensive study, critique, and analysis. A Companion to Television brings together contributions from prominent international scholars comprising a wide range of perspectives on the medium. Original essays define television in its current state, explore why it is still relevant, survey the ways in which television has been studied, discuss how television has changed, and consider what television might look like in the future.

Now in its second edition, this compendium includes fresh chapters that cover technological changes affecting television, contemporary approaches to understanding television audiences, new programming trends and developments, and more. Addressing nine key areas of television studies, such as industry, genres, programs, and audiences, the Companion offers readers a balanced, well-rounded, integrative approach to scholarship in the field. This volume:

• Provides overviews of extensive original research from leading scholars and theorists
• Examines television's development and significance in various regions of the world
• Includes national and regional outlines of television around the world
• Features theoretical overviews of various critical approaches to television studies
• Explores historical, economic, institutional, political, and cultural issues studied by media scholars

Presenting diverse perspectives on topics ranging from television advertising to satirical representations of the industry, A Companion to Television, Second Edition is an invaluable resource for those in undergraduate courses in television studies, as well as in general media studies and communications.

Part I
Introduction

Introduction

Janet Wasko and Eileen R. Meehan

Television (tel•e•vi•sion.)

Pronunciation /tɛlɪˈvɪʒ(ə)n//ˈtɛlɪvɪʒ(ə)n/

Origin Early 20th century: from tele‐ ‘at a distance’ + vision.

1. [mass noun] A system for converting visual images (with sound) into electrical signals, transmitting them by radio or other means, and displaying them electronically on a screen.
   1. The activity, profession, or medium of broadcasting on television.
   2. Television programmes.
2. A device with a screen for receiving television signals.
   • Lexico.com (Dictionary.com and Oxford University Press), https://www.lexico.com/en/definition/television

What is television, how can we understand it, and why should we bother? Ultimately, these questions lie at the heart of this volume, which features chapters by an international collection of media scholars who have studied various aspects of television. But even these experts do not offer easy or conclusive answers to these key questions, for television presents a complex phenomenon that has become a ubiquitous feature of our world.

In this second edition of A Companion for Television, additional questions must be asked: How has television changed with the introduction of digital technologies since the beginning of the twenty‐first century? And, in light of these changes, is television dead or has it become so pervasive and delivered by so many technologies that it is almost inescapable?

What is Television?

Television is a multifaceted apparatus. Most simply, it is a technological process, an electronic device, a system of distributing images and sounds. Although television as a form of mass communication did not emerge until the late 1940s and early 1950s, much of the technology for television was developed during the 1920s. As with many forms of media technology, the promises and expectations for the medium were optimistic and propitious. For instance, one of the often‐overlooked inventors in the United States, Philo Farnsworth, was clearly hopeful about television's future. One of his biographers explains:

Philo began laying out his vision for what television could become. Above all the … television would become the world's greatest teaching tool. Illiteracy would be wiped out. The immediacy of television was the key. As news happened viewers would watch it unfold live; no longer would we have to rely on people interpreting and distorting the news for us. We would be watching sporting events and symphony orchestras. Instead of going to the movies, the movies would come to us. Television would also bring about world peace. If we were able to see people in other countries and learn about our differences, why would there be any misunderstandings? War would be a thing of the past

(Schwartz 2002, p. 113).

Obviously, Farnsworth's full vision has not yet been realized, even though some parts of his dream have been more than fulfilled. Television has become a common household appliance that serves as a source of news, information, politics, entertainment, education, religion, art, culture, sports, weather, and music. Television is an industrial system that produces and distributes products, as well as (often) promoting other commodities and commerce. Hence, television is not only a technical device, but also a social, political, economic, and cultural force.

Of course, the way television is produced and received has changed over the years with changing political and economic climates, as well as the introduction of newer technologies – videocassette recorders, cable systems, pay TV, satellite systems, digital, and high definition. In addition, other communication systems (such as computers and the internet) have challenged traditional television's dominance as the primary mass medium, while often serving as a means for viewers to access television programming. Indeed, these variations and changes make television an enigmatic “moving target,” its future uncertain and contested. Nevertheless, we must still attempt to define its character and its influence. And because of these technological changes and the context in which they are emerging, we may need a new definition of television.

Why Should We Still Bother to Understand Television?

Television – in all its forms – continues to be a centrally important factor and an inescapable part of modern culture. Many would still call it the most important of all the mass media. As the television program Modern Marvels concluded:

From its public marketing in the 1940s to the present day, television can be listed as one of the most profound, if not the most profound, influences on human history. Television has affected every aspect of our lives including history, science, politics, culture and social mores. It is impossible to imagine a world without television, and most of us take for granted the way television has shaped and defined our society, and our lives

(The History Channel 1996).

The pervasiveness of television is hard to ignore. For instance, in the United States and Canada, television ownership reaches 99% of households, with an average number of nearly three sets per household. Despite the proliferation of individual digital screens, television is still a central presence in homes, with a high percentage of Americans still watching television while eating dinner.

In addition, television sets are also prominent in other locations. We find them in bars, restaurants, shopping malls, waiting rooms, schools, hospitals, prisons … indeed, television sets still seem to be nearly everywhere and often difficult to avoid. Certainly, television ownership and viewing may vary around the world – but the prevalence of television is a global, albeit varied, phenomenon.

We know that television in its various forms is a fundamental part of everyday life for many people, although accessing television data is complicated by inevitable methodological problems. Only a few years ago, it was claimed that the average American watches more than four hours of TV each day. With the growth of TV‐connected devices (DVD/Blu‐ray devices, game consoles, and internet‐connected devices), it seems there may be even more overall television viewing. It is important, however, to note, the different viewing behavior between age groups. Nielson has reported that traditional TV time is much greater among older audiences, while connected TV time is much higher (and growing) among younger groups, but still trails traditional TV (see Table I.1.).

Television is also still able to gather very large audiences at one time, evidenced by the 114 million viewers of the Super Bowl in February 2015. And some regularly scheduled programs also draw significant audiences, with Roseanne attracting nearly 20 million viewers in 2018 (Nielsen 2018).

A...