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Evolution Of Entertainment Industry – More Emphasis On Eyeballs And TV Ratings Today

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Desire for entertainment is a basic need that differentiates man from animals. Animals work in an instinctive manner and focus on their needs. They hunt to eat and survive. There is very little scope for pleasure and entertainment in their lives. They are just not built that way.

On the other hand, the human being has come a long way from the battle with nature and lives a life today that not only focus on survival but on something more than mere animal existence. Entertainment, amongst other things, makes a huge difference to the quality of life of the individual.

It would not be incorrect to say that each and every activity of man is directed towards entertainment. We don’t need to earn a lot of money just to survive on good quality food and basic requirements. However, we go ahead and try to earn a lot more money so that we can enjoy the good things in life, which invariably are related to entertainment.

From a trip to a baseball game in town to a quiet and private dinner for you and your spouse-anything can be defined as entertainment. However, if one considers entertainment as an industry, any and every activity which has an audience and which helps individuals enjoy motions is classified as entertainment. That is why we have soap operas that cater to those who love emotional and mushy stuff. A sport is a perennial favorite for the athletic and aggressive individuals. Music and reality shows have become very popular because they provide peak into the life of celebrities and other individuals who were considered unapproachable in the past.

Filed Under: History, Television Tagged With: Entertainment, Human, Reality television

History of CBS

CBS led the ratings for years, but it was created as an act of revenge. When Arthur Judson, a talent agent, saw that none of the stars he represented were accepted for NBC’s radio networks, Judson created his own network, the United Independent Broadcasters. This network was soon merged with the Columbia Phonograph Company and became the Colombia Phonograph Broadcasting Company. Soon, after ailing profits and a few sales, the company came into the hands of William Paley, who renamed the network to CBS (Colombia Broadcasting System).

While Paley was aggressive in his advertising strategy (that literally paid off for the company), his main achievement was recognizing future stars and signed stars like Bing Crosby and a strong news team led by Edward R. Murrow. Paley was at first hesitant to enter the world of television broadcasting, but when it did, it maintained strong first-place finishes in the ratings for almost 20 years thanks to hits like I Love Lucy, Ed Sullivan, and Gunsmoke.

The network did hit a speed bump with Joseph McCarthy and his followers named the station the Communist Broadcasting System. It also required loyalty oaths from all of its employees. Murrow fought this with his 1954 investigation of McCarthy, See It Now. Unfortunately, CBS officials disliked Murrow after this and one of the greatest news men of all time resigned in 1961. The impressive news department became shouldered for the likes of entertainment programming, such as when the 1966 Senate hearings on the Vietnam War were not broadcasted; instead, reruns of I Love Lucy were aired. Head of News division Fred Friendly resigned shortly after.

Filed Under: History, Technology Tagged With: CBS, Edward R. Murrow, Joseph McCarthy

History of NBC

In the initial days of radio, there were just two networks before the American Broadcasting Company (ABC) came along: the Colombia Broadcasting System, or CBS, and the National Broadcasting Company, or NBC. NBC was started by its parent company, the Radio Corporation of America, who saw a way to increase their radio sales by providing programming. RCA formed NBC in 1926, and shortly thereafter developed another network, so the two became known as NBC-Red and NBC-Blue. The two NBC networks had a cavalcade of hit programming, clear channel stations, and radio stars. NBC was one of the first companies to start experimenting with television broadcasting and began testing their broadcasts from the Empire State Building in 1932.

Soon the FCC became suspicious of RCA’s dominance in the broadcasting field and began investigating NBC’s procedures. Fearing a monopoly, the FCC forced the company to “divorce” it’s two high-powered networks. NBC-Blue was sold and eventually became ABC. NBC wasn’t a huge money-maker for RCA; it accounted for only a quarter of the company’s profits. However, NBC played a much more important role for RCA: it gave Americans a reason to go out a purchase a television from RCA.

The 50′s and 60′s saw NBC in a consistent second-place finish behind CBS. While the company focused on prime-time dramas and comedy-variety programming featuring a wealth of modern stars (Bob Hope, Perry Como, Dean Martin, Jerry Lewis), NBC is also credited with developing the “magazine concept” of advertising. Whereas companies before had merely sponsored an entire program, the commercials now appeared within the programming, like one sees within the pages of the magazine.

Filed Under: History, Technology Tagged With: CBS, Empire State Building, NBC

The History of ABC

ABC stands for the American Broadcasting Company, a company that has a long history in the television industry. In its history, ABC has long competed with other network giants CBS and NBC, and occasionally the network does come out on top. ABC hasn’t always been affiliated with the Walt Disney Company, either: that merger didn’t occur until 1995. So what was the network like back when it first started?

ABC started back before television, when the Federal Communications Commission, or FCC, reported problems with NBC radio in the late ‘30’s. The FCC was concerned that NBC owned two networks (NBC-Red and NBC-Blue). The FCC recommended that the two stations undergo “divorcement,” and the Blue Network was sold to Edward Noble’s American Broadcasting System. ABC was born, and the three power networks became NBC, ABC, and CBS, with ABC coming in third place in the broadcasting battle.

By 1951, Edward Noble and ABC were almost bankrupt. ABC was sold to Leonard Goldenson and United Paramount Theaters. Goldenson had spent his prior career at Paramount Pictures. Goldenson made a smart business move by agreeing to help fund Disneyland in exchange for 35 percent of the park. Goldenson also agreed to a Walt Disney TV series that became the network’s first big hit. By 1964, the network was number one of the three networks thanks to shows like Bewitched and The Addams Family. Unfortunately, the network only stayed number one in the ratings for a few weeks. It wasn’t until 1970 that the network experienced its first number one show, Marcus Welby, M.D.

ABC made history by airing network television’s first miniseries event, Rich Man, Poor Man. ABC then became famous in the mid-seventies for titillating programming like Charlie’s Angels as well as another successful miniseries, Roots.

ABC also became the first network to have a woman evening anchor, Barbara Walters.

Filed Under: History, Technology Tagged With: American Broadcasting Company, Leonard Goldenson, Walt Disney Company

From Radio to Television: The History of American Bandstand

American Bandstand holds an important place in music and American history. It was one of the few television programming (along with soap operas) to successfully transfer from radio to television. During the 1950’s, it was common for stations to host a music record show because of the high amount of teenagers it drew to the show coupled with a low production cost. Advertisers were eager to advertise to the teenage market and record companies provided free records in hopes of gaining air time for their artists. This programming became known as “teen dance party” programs.

American Bandstand originated in Philadelphia’s WFIL-TV in 1952 under the name Bandstand. The show was hosted “live” by Bob Horn, a well-known local DJ. As Bandstand’s success grew, Bob Horn began hosting in front of the cameras while Dick Clark played disk jockey. Bob Horn was then arrested for drunk driving right in the middle of WFIL’s large campaign against drunk driving. Dick Clark then took over the show.Dick Clark should be given monumental credit for insisting that the show become racially integrated when he took over the show from Bob Horn, given that many of the recording artists played on the show were black. Clark took the program to ABC in 1957 and succeeded in getting the network to pick up the newly renamed American Bandstand. It first aired in August of 1957. The show aired at 3 PM, a perfect match for its target audiences: the teens were at home and adults were at work.

In 1964, the show was moved to California and only broadcasted once a week. By the late 60’s, American teens had foregone the clean-cut rock and roll of American Bandstand in favor of psychedelic rock. The show tried to adapt by focusing on disco. Eventually, after 30 years on the air, ABC cancelled the show in 1987, unable to compete with music videos.

Filed Under: History, Television Tagged With: American Bandstand, Dick Clark, United States

History of HBO

The Home Box Office started in 1972 as a pay-per-movie-view service based out of New York. Also in 1972, the station expanded to broadcast an NHL game to people in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. The station continued to expand until 1975, when HBO was able to broadcast a Muhammad Ali vs. Joe Frazier heavyweight championship boxing match through satellite technology. Thanks to the success of this broadcast, HBO was the first network to utilize satellites in regular programming transmission.

HBO soon faced competition from other premium networks like Showtime. Showtime was able to get exclusive deal with Paramount Pictures’ movies, leading HBO to seek an exclusive partnership with other movie companies, such as Columbia Pictures and 20^th Century Fox. In 1990, HBO launched HBO Independent Productions, which was dedicated to creating original television series. The first show HBO Independent Productions created was Roc for FOX. The company went onto develop programming for other networks, including 1991, after HBO acquired Citadel Entertainment.

HBO recognized the increased popularity of home video rentals and launched its own line in that area called HBO Home Video. The line was launched in 1984 with Thorn EMI Entertainment and was originally called EMI/HBO Home Video. HBO has been lauded numerous industry awards over the year, including cable TV’s highest honor, the Golden Ace. In addition to its regular programming, HBO also runs Cinemax and owned 50% of the Comedy Central station. HBO is operated in many countries all over the world in a variety of different languages. The network has had such achievements as creating the first made-for-TV pay-per-watch movie (the movie was The Terry Fox Story). In 1986, HBO was the first to begin using full-time scrambling in order to fight piracy.

Today, HBO still provides the newer movies that made the network famous, but it’s now known just as much for its original programming like The Sopranos and Boardwalk Empire. HBO also produces many critically acclaimed movies and mini-series each year that earn the network numerous Emmy awards.

Filed Under: History, Television Tagged With: HBO, Joe Frazier, Terry Fox Story

It’s Time to Light the Lights: a History of the Muppet Show

The Muppet Show is responsible for bringing some of the world’s best-known and best-loved characters to life the homes of families all over the globe. Kermit, Miss Piggy, Gonzo, and Fozzie Bear all represent a cast of characters still beloved by the world today. The classic children’s television program Sesame Street, another Jim Hensen creation, had been successfully running since. Though it must be noted that Sesame Street’s success proved bittersweet for Jim Hensen, as most television and movie CEOs perceive the Muppets as being only for children.

The Muppet Show first aired in 1976 and aired until 1981. While it aired, it was broadcasted in over one hundred countries. The show was unique not only for the fact that its cast of characters were comprised entirely of puppets (save a weekly guest star), but also in its ability to captivate both children and adults. It was truly programming that the entire family could watch.

The show featured classic Muppet characters that are still known today to modern audiences, including Rowlf, the piano-playing mutt and Statler and Waldorf, two elderly audience members who get their kicks heckling the Muppets onstage. No Muppet Show history can get by without mentioning Hensen’s counterpart, Frank Oz. While Jim Hensen performed the “straight man” of the Muppets, Kermit the Frog, Frank Oz was responsible for the zanier characters like Fozzie Bear and Miss Piggy. One of the Muppet Show’s cult favorite characters, the Swedish Chef, was performed by both Oz and Hensen. Hensen would do the voice while Oz performed the Swedish Chef’s hands.

The show managed to convince an impressive amount of top-name celebrities to come perform with a bunch of puppets. Guest stars included Florence Henderson, Steve Martin, Vincent Price, Julie Andrews, John Cleese, Gene Kelly, and Alice Cooper (yes, that Alice Coper). The Muppet Show led to a series of successful Muppet movies, including The Muppet Movie, The Great Muppet Caper, The Muppets Take Manhattan, The Muppets’ Christmas Carol, The Muppets’ Treasure Island, and Muppets in Space.

Filed Under: General, History Tagged With: Fozzie Bear, Great Muppet Caper, Muppet Show

A Brief History of Food Network

Image via Wikipedia

Much like music broadcasting channels are dedicated to music, Food Network is all about food: cooking food, food origins, recipes, how food is made, and food-based reality competitions. The company didn’t appear out of thin air. So how did Food Network get started, and how did it become what it is today?

The Origins of Food Network

April 19, 1993 marks the founding date of the TV Food Network. After a few years, the channel shortened its name to Food Network, but the company’s legal name remains Television Food Network, G.P. Reese Schonfeld, a television heavy-hitter who also co-founded CNN, created the network under the guidance of Trygve Myrhen (The Providence Journal President). Reese Schonfeld became the network’s Managing Director.

The Original Lineup

Modern fans of the network will perhaps best recognize Food Network star Emeril Lagasse, who was part of the original lineup with his show Essence of Emeril. Emeril remains a fan favorite television cook today and is known for his signature phrases of “Bam!” and “Kick it up a notch!” Culinary fans will no doubt recognize Jacques Pépen, a legendary French chef and television personality. Other stars in the original Food Network lineup included Debbi Fields, David Rosengarten, Dr. Louis Arrone, Donna Hanover, and Curtis Aikens. Interestingly enough, Robin Leach, host of Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous, was also seen on Food Network in its original year. Food Network then acquired the rights to the Julia Child library the year after.

Food Network in the Kitchen vs. Food Network Nighttime

Food Network divided its programming into two types: daytime and nighttime. Daytime programming is largely how-to cooking shows, which include favorites like Everyday Italian, Cooking for Real, 30 Minute Meals, and Paula’s Best Dishes. Food Network Nighttime is devoted to food-related programming like Chopped, Iron Chef America, and Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives. Food Network Nighttime has also launched a string of cooking or food-related reality competitions like The Next Food Network Star, The Next Iron Chef, Worst Cooks in America, and The Great Food Truck Race.

Filed Under: History, Television Tagged With: Emeril Lagasse, Food Network, Great Food Truck Race

A Brief History of TNT

TNT launched on October 3, 1988 as a sister station to Turner Broadcasting System. (TBS) At the time that it launched, both stations were owned by Ted Turner. The first programming ever shown on TNT was Ted Turner’s favorite movie, Gone with the Wind.

When the station first launched, it aired older movies and syndicated television shows. They also had partial rights to Sunday Night Football, airing part of the regular season telecasts and distributing feed to local stations in their own markets.

Beginning in 1995, the station also aired WCW Nitro. During the peak of Wrestling’s popularity this was the highest rated weekly program on cable television. WCW Nitro defeated Monday Night Raw for 83 straight weeks until 1998.

TNT was well known in the 1990s for their late night B movies. Every Saturday night they would host a pair of horror films and provide running commentary, trivia and jokes. These movies were very popular among viewers and oftentimes these events would have guest hosts such as Penn and Teller.

Starting in the late 1990s, TNT started creating their own original series, the first major success they found was with Witchblade, which ran for two seasons.

In June 2001 TNT relaunched themselves with a new logo and the slogan “We Know Drama.” At the time they were playing network dramas like Law & Order and NYPD Blue. As time went on, they picked up shows such as: Angel, Charmed, ER, Without a Trace, Judging Amy, and Las Vegas.

In 2004 TNT started broadcasting in high definition. It was the first Turner channel and one of the first on cable to offer high definition television.

In 2008, they retooled their logo once again, with it appearing mostly in silver and gold. They also decided to focus on more original programming, with plans to have at least three nights of original primetime programming each week.

Filed Under: History Tagged With: TBS, Ted Turner, TNT

Evolution of the Television, 1831 to 1870s

: Image via Wikipedia

The television set is an invention that did not come about as the result of a single inventor. Instead, many different people working separately and together contributed to the design and development of this unique and revolutionary electronic device. The development and evolution of the television can be traced back as far as 1831.

Back in 1831, Joseph Henry along with Michael Faraday was working with electromagnetism. The work that they did jumpstarted the “electronic communication” era.

In 1862, the first still image was transferred when the Pantelegraph was invented by Abbe Giovanna Caselli. He became the first ever person to transmit a still image across wires.

In 1873, May and Smith, scientists, were experimenting with selenium coupled with light. What this revealed was that there was a possibility for images to be transformed by inventors into electronic signals.

A civil servant in Boston, George Carey was thinking as early as 1876 about completed television systems. In the year 1877 he managed to put forward some drawings for an electronic device that he called the selenium camera, and this was going to make it possible for people to see by way of electricity. During this same era, a man named Eugen Goldstein coined the “cathode rays” term in order to describe the light that is emitted when electric currents are forced through vacuum tubes.

In the late 1870s, engineers and scientists like Figuier, Paiva and Senlecq were all in the process of suggesting various alternative designs for a devide known as a Telectroscope.

This was just the beginning, though. The true television system has not even been fully realized by this era, but inventions were coming a long way, and inventors were well on their way to finding a way to make their dreams come true.

Filed Under: History, Television Tagged With: Eugen Goldstein, Michael Faraday, Telectroscope