Not-so-quotable Quotes from short-sighted

broadcasters: “There will never be a 4th TV network.” “No one will pay for cable TV.” “No one will pay for services like HBO.” “The radio industry is criminal today” “TV is a vast wasteland today” “Germany had anti-democratic, we

should take a dose of our own medicine

“No one will pay $50 for a boxing on PPV.”

“A game show will never again succeed in prime time.”

“When the government allocates monopoly rights to broadcasters, its picking the winners in this game.”

This course about un-reported and under-discussed nature of US Broadcast history

That is what the course is about

Key Terms Today:

CONVERGENCE MEDIA CONSOLIDATION NEW TECHNOLOGIES NARROW POLITICAL POSSIBILITIES INCREASED JOB OPPORTUNITIES MEDIA RECOGNIZED AS CENTRAL COMMUNICATION THE CORE

Convergence:

“…the combination of more than one medium, where the media can include speech, music, text, data, graphics, fax, image, video and animation…”

Marshall McLuhan (it will change us!) What happens to cultural producers? Who gets to control the pace (ideas)

Consolidation:

“…a media company’s attempt to increase market share and become more profitable through the acquisition of more diverse media outlets…”

The huge increase in Power, Control! Do voices get squelched in process Is broadcasting business/public service

Electronic Media

Broadcast (Radio then TV) Change Cable (Does it have advantages) Wireless Cable (Where is it going?) DBS (Will it win, expand choices?) Internet (Who frames the questions?) Hybrids (Perhaps the real story) A time to ask big questions?

Broadcast Media:

Utilizes PUBLIC RADIO WAVES to emit its signal to viewers and listeners

Is that still a viable concept or reality [De] Regulated by government because

it uses PUBLIC AIRWAVES to distribute Does Convergence change all rules? First Amendment, diversity, politics

American Commercial Media Did Founders

planned it this way? Laissez-faire

philosophy 1st Amendment

protected opinions Is Media serving

democracy Do we need a NEW

DEBATE/New World

Broadcast Paradox:

The struggle to serve the public while turning a profit for shareholders

That concept strained to the limit The struggle to make money while

serving the public (is it even possible?) Do conservative media owners work to

exclude contrary opinion Would new movement get on the air?

Broadcast Media: Still the PRINCIPAL PROVIDERS of

news and entertainment (Like or not!) Still the MOST WATCHED source of

the above (well over 50% of us) Do Americans understand themselves

and the world? Big Issue here. Can we call profit media free now? Look at the BBC and NBC, then answer Is new Reform movement needed?

Cable:

More people on cable than not People resent the high costs Narrowcasting AIM ads at audiences Already connected to most homes Can be transmitted wirelessly through a

series of microwave towers What is its future, changes coming

DBS (Direct Broadcast Satellite) Uses public airwaves but is considered

“non-broadcast” because… Only subscribers can receive their

signal Is that a flimsy rationale for seperation Is it a ploy to lead to massive dereg? Does reg serve the public, can it?

Internet

Contains programming and has a structure of its own that’s evolving

It relies on telephone, cable, wireless and satellite for transmission

Began as a hybrid but has gained an identity of its own

Will commerce or people rule, the age old question played out again?

Common Carriers

Supply communication facilities, such as telephones and satellites

Assume no responsibility for conversations or programming transmitted on the facility

Have no need for protection under the First Amendment

Will they change, penetrate other areas

DIFFERENCES

supply equipment need to get license government controls

fees and profits Lives under more

restrictions

supply programming difficult to acquire NEW

license but easy to keep Should we auction Profits? Sky’s the limit! Convergence, will it

create winners/losers

Common Carriers Electronic Media

Cable and the Internet: Mix of both common carrier and

electronic media That’s why the government has

struggled over how to regulate them Do they have an obligation to serve the

public… like broadcasters? The questions mount, the technology

surpassed our ability to keep up We can be sure market model will

prevail

The Future and the Past

A long way from Lee DeForest? We’re much more literate in all ways Can the center hold on status quo Social movements go elsewhere Will fed-up people develop own nets Will government fight back/people Is the problem exaggerated?