Television
Television
Introduction
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Revolution
in the mass media started to gain momentum with the arrival of television. The television
made it possible in combining the aspects of cinema and radio making it a dual
purpose mass media. Television has slowly shaped the world by ensuring the
fictional and factual presentation of accounts. Radio presents sound and talk where
radio drama is just heard and not seen. The news in the radio are just audio
presentation of the days happening recorded and released to the society. Cinema
on the other hand is the visual presentation of fictional accounts and figurative
of what is happening in society. At times the cinema was much removed from the
reality of what is in the society. In regard to television, its impact has been
immense given the fact that it combines both audio and visual elements and
furthermore it brings the reality in the contemporary society. This is what
makes television a major milestone in the mass media combining the aspects of cinema
and radio thus being a threat to the survival of the two. Television brought
the interactive aspect in mass media given that the viewer can see what is
happening and communicate feedback to the people he can see and hear on
television. This is something which is lacking in the other mass media like cinema
and radio.
History
of Television
Since
the invention of television, in 1939 when several scientists contributed to the
first analogue TV, they have been part and will continue to play integral role
in our lives. Among the pioneers who came up with analogue TVs like the IF5 was
Andrea. Andrea contributed to the third mode of TV revolution known as 8F12 of
twelve inches. The analogue TVs of 1939 especially the five inches had no sound
but vision to the delight of many people. The TV-Radio mode of 1930s and early
40s were built in a way that they would capture the radio frequency and the analogue
signal. However, a drawback happened with the start of Second World War because
people earned very little while compared to the dear cost of the TV sets. The
production was stopped only to resume in 1946. Color television sets were
manufactured in 1949 and with the number of stations increasing. By 1950s
millions of TV sets in America were sold and 107 stations were established.
1940s
and 50s were important periods in the history of television because manufacturers
ensured they revolutionalized the mass media were audio-visual communication
and entertainment became in vogue in the society then. Although radio and
cinema in early 1930s dominated with the monopoly in the commercial advertisement
and entertainment, the advent of television saw complete reversal with people
being appealed by this interactive and attractive mass media. Programming of
the television became important and paved way for entertainment and communication
of information in a way that no other mass media had ever done. The 1960s
television sets were modified into vacuum tube TVs though poor in color
rendition mostly black-white color. The tube electronic TVs are in 1970s
replaced by the solid electronics which were using the UHF tuners. A decade
later there was fine-tuning of the electronic tuners leading to the cable
television eventually replacing the black and white sets of TVs. LCD TVs have
dominated the 1990s supporting high definition video modes. There is now worldwide
migration from the analogue broadcasting to the digital-terrestrial
broadcasting.
How
television has revolutionalized the media
Since
its invention, television has had significant impact in the mass media for its
programming that bring out game shows, prime time news, new programs, and
reality shows. The four types of programming have endeared themselves to the
audience more than any other mass media. The television due to the visual and audio
aspects caught the world by storm raising the domestic consumption, a polemic
aspect in its medium, and its significant impact in the ideological rationale as
result of social function. Although the radio had significantly penetrated the
society with every household possessing a radio, television has had significant
appeal in the mass media because with audio-visual aspect has led to societal
representation. Unlike radio and cinema, television encompasses different
aspects in communication of information where news, movies, shows among others
are aired. In this view, the society finds television quite accommodating than cinema
and radio where the older people are obsessed with news, music entertains the
young people, and cartoons are for children. People at home spent their
relaxation time watching favorite programs while others spent time watching
movies in the comfort of their rooms. TVs are found in kitchen, bedrooms,
sitting rooms, and even at workplaces because the influence it has on people’s
culture and way of thinking. This makes television the media of choice and many
people prefer it than other forms in the mass media.
The invention of television
is the best thing that happened with technological advancement. Not only has
television revolutionalized the domestic consumption but also the commercial
sector. Commercial advertisements that used to be posted in radio and cinema are
now posted television. The reception of television by the public has been immense
and the presentation of information and entertainment has by far been
overwhelming. Commercial television has had significant impact on cultural and
economic life where it has outshined the radio broadcasting and cinema. The
massive powers television exercises are felt in being number one marketer and informer
compared to radio. Television has been a discourse in the mass media that has
self-promoted its capabilities as a result of its implicit positioning and permeating
the trade and public discussions. Playing the lead-role in advertising, television
unlike radio is quite captivating because it employs all the aesthetics of
appeal in informing the public and especially consumers on the products that
are in the market. Consumers are well informed on how the products are used,
where they can get them, their prices as well as why they should buy particular
brands instead of others. Radio broadcasting has to some extent been on the
front run in commercial advertising but the influence of television due to its
audio-visual factor has infused reality in advertising.
Despite the
cultural contextualizing of cinema in 1940s, which was associated with artistic
status, high cultural esteem, and personal expression, television has
revolutionalized cultural prestige having associated with liveness,
domesticity, and creating a national identity. Cinema impressed people with moving
pictures where artistic aesthetics have been packaged in factual and fiction to
project reality in life. Television has overwhelmed the endeavors of cinema not
in competitive manner but employing domestication approach, infusing liveness
touch and more so contextualizing aspects that bring national identity. Television
programming in many a nation is nurtured toward the domestic audience. It is notable
how the programs in television are tailored toward the way of life of the
people which translates to public identifying with the contents that is
programmed in the television.
Reality shows
adopted by television have infused new aspect in mass media that has not been
done by radio broadcasting. Although there is criticism of reality shows by
television but they are true reality of what is prevalent on society. The shows
have significant impacts on the way contemporary cultures are and continue to
influence civilization giving rise to what is known as the popular culture. All
over the world, reality shows have become a common aspect as a result of drawing
great demand from the audiences. Some of the reality shows anchored on television
stations have had significant impacts being leveled as life-changing in a
positive way. The shows change the way of thinking of the people resulting to an
informed society that defies the odds in life and lead good lives as a result
of them being aired on television. Television has thus become the life of the
people in society because it reflects on the reality of the contemporary society
for people to view what is good and bad for informed choices.
The interactive
aspect of television reality programming has been more of public entertainment
and rewarding because not only have the shows become more real but also a
reward system for the faithful fans. Fans who participate in the raffles reap monetary
benefits making some of them millionaires in the process. No other mass media
has been able to attract more participation that reality shows hosted by
television stations. Every reward system inherently is a good sign to the public
because it shows that their efforts are appreciated in supporting mass media
and its efforts in keeping the audiences informed as well as entertained. Although
not everyone can become rich by lack but participation of the reality shows portray
the realities in the societies and instill hope to the hopeless as well as trying
to deconstruct some myths the society continues to grapple with. The media has
a duty to culturally shape the society and impart the good morals to the young
generation. Reality shows in television have significantly done this duty by imparting
morals in the young generation on top of highlighting that the generation can
break the barriers previously experienced by past generations. The ideal in
society is reflected in the television, which variably acts as the benchmark to
the society and infuse the element of national identity. A good example of such
reality shows include the America’s Next Top Model reality show, which highlights
the realities in American society as well as building that national identity
the American people can nationally identify with.
No society can economically,
politically, socially, culturally, and religiously grow without the influence
of other societies. The television’s reality shows and liveness helped bring
about interaction of different cultures; not to showcase the differences but
highlight the cultural diversities, infuse understanding for social and
cultural appreciation. Reality shows help deconstruct stereotypes that have
been seen as the cultural way of life of other societies. The understanding derived
by societies from reality shows thus enhancing social understanding leading political
and economic progress in interacting societies. Radio and cinema showcases the differences
in cultures and societies but at some level end up perpetuating the stereotypes
which cause ethnic tensions. Therefore, television showcases the evil and good in
society so that people can make informed choices on aspects that affect their
lives directly. Airing certain reality programs in television in essence help change
our attitudes so that the society becomes a better place to live in.
On the global events
that the world experiences in the contemporary society today have had
significant influence from the television. Television prime news of what is
going around the world in live images has made the world a global village. The
societies are able to compare their predicament with those of other societies in
the world and agitate for change. On the onset of 2011, the Arab world is under
turmoil because of the authoritative regimes which are repressing and
oppressing the Arab people. Television has been feeding the world with live
pictures what is going on around the globe leading to agitation in societies
that have been repressed by the leaders. It started with people revolting
against the government in Tunisia ,
and the whole of Arab world is up in arms against dictatorial and authoritative
regimes. Television is able to highlight the predicament of misfortunes in one
nation and in the next twelve hours solutions to the problems affecting the
people of this nation is found. Television has greatly influenced the lives of the
people than cinema and radio have done in the past half century.
Its
impact on Cinema and Radio
Television
has brought the competitive aspect in the mass media where monopoly is a thing
of the past. With its programming, television has been able to play the roles
played by radio and cinema concurrently. Cinema embraced the art of entertaining
people in society through fictional representation. Movies were produced depicting
the ideal in society where the good triumph over evil. However, this is not
always the case because evil forces shave in reality driven the good to the
verge of people despairing in life. With the advent of television, entertainment
took another twist which is quite crucial on the entertainment sector. Reality
shows have made entertainment the form of relaxation where people on top of
being entertained learn the vital aspects in life. Commercial advertisement
which used cinema as the media to pass information to the consumer world has
found less people in the business world willing to advertise through it because
television has become a choice of the masses.
Radio
broadcasting on the other hand used to showcase programs like radio shows but
television seems to have beaten it with its liveness. People now prefer
watching news than listening because it shows more than just the presenter reading
the news. Radio had dominated the society before television had made impact in
the world because of its affordability and availability. But television has
slowly but surely moved on edging out radio as the mass media of informing
people, entertaining them as well. The two mass media have thus resulted to survival
tactics to keep them in business of entertaining and informing people.
Response
Cinema and Radio to Influence of Television
Television
has over years stamped its authority in entertainment and communicating information
to the society. In order to remain in business, radio and cinema have responded
appropriately to continue existing in the market. Cinema has taken a different turn,
not moving away from fictional presentation of society but embraced reality.
Cinema has embraced presentation of society’s problems and ways of solving them
through documentaries that are more like the television’s reality shows. Documentary
films have even been used in television in a partnership the television so as
to inform and entertain people. Diversification in cinema has seen it present
various genres in films rather than the depicting of the society after war and
depression of 1920s and early 40s. Today, genres range from drama, gangster,
historical, sci-fi, horror, to entertaining and informing documentaries. Cinema
has therefore embraced informing the society rather than the previous role of
entertaining the people to effectively compete with television.
Radio
has inevitably changed bringing in talk shows, humor presenters, and embraced interactive
programs that enable listeners to actively participate. In radio broadcasting
today is not like decades ago when after reading of news there was no program
interesting to listen to. What is going on around the globe is updated to the
avid listener not on hourly basis but after fifteen minutes. Music playing of
the current tracks as well as the global ranking has effectively made radio
listening worthwhile. Interactive talk shows have also kept listeners at par
with world events, problems, and proposing solutions on how to go about the
social problems. Moreover, listeners of radio can also win lotteries like those
presented in television and win large amount of money. Organizing roadside
promotions for politicians and marketing companies has also become part of many
radio broadcasting stations widening their operations and meeting the listeners
after all.
Conclusion
Mass media in society is
indebted with providing basis of informing and entertaining the society of what
goes on in the globe. Cinema and radio have had dominated this arena in the 18th
and part of the 19th century. With the arrival of television, the
other mass media saw a new challenge and competitor who eclipsed the roles of entertaining
and informing the society in a more appealing way. Prime time news, reality
shows, game shows, and entertainment have become roles that are played so well
by the television. The contemporary society is so engrossed by the programs of
the television that people admit cannot live without television. Although the
in vogue Internet is revolutionalizing the mass media today, digital television
programming is up for the challenge just like radio and cinema were with advent
of television. Television has become the mirror on which the modern society
reflects itself in.
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