An understanding of how we learn to watch television and why we watch television is integral in any examination of television history, industry or regulation. A comprehension of what audiences bring to the televiewing experience and what the television industry does to keep its audience attending is essential in the exploration of what they take away. This text fills this void in the literature. It is specifically designed to complement existing texts from a wide variety of related fields of study. Each chapter ends with a summary that recaps the main points of interest and provides a logical transition to the next chapter.
THE AUDIENCE: CONSUMER AND COMMODITY. Televiewing Audience Defined. Mass Audience Defined. Why Televiewing is Not Taken Seriously. SYMBOLIC INTERACTION: AN AUDIENCE AND INDUSTRY COLLABORATION. Internal Reality. External Reality. BECOMING TELELITERATE. How Viewers Watch. Why Viewers Watch. Implications and Ramifications of Televiewing. THE AUDIENCE MAKERS. The Stations. Television Production Houses. The Syndicators. The Networks. Advertisers. AUDIENCE MAKING. Branding. Programming. Promotion. Program Scheduling. Sweeps. Between Program Schedules. Within Program Manipulation. AUDIENCE MEASUREMENT; FLAWS AND FALLACIES. Free Screenings. Ratings. Ratings History. Alternative Measures. PROTECTING THE AUDIENCES INTEREST, CONVENIENCE, AND NECESSITY. Issues Associated with Public Interest. Issues Associated with Public Confidence. Issues Associated with Public Necessity. TELEVIEWING AS COMPETITIVE SPORT. Competition From Within. External Competition. The Broadcast Network Response to the Competition. Author Index. Subject Index.