Why TV is not our fault : television programming, viewers, and who's really in control

Author(s)

    • Meehan, Eileen R.

Bibliographic Information

Why TV is not our fault : television programming, viewers, and who's really in control

Eileen R. Meehan

(Critical media studies)

Rowman & Littlefield, c2005

  • : hbk.
  • : pbk.

Available at  / 2 libraries

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Note

Includes bibliographical references and index

Description and Table of Contents

Volume

: hbk. ISBN 9780742524859

Description

For more than five decades, we've been told by pundits, commentators, advertisers, scholars, and politicians that television is both a window on the world and a mirror reflecting our culture. We've been led to believe that it shows us the world's events through news programs and, through entertainment programs, reflects the preferences, values, beliefs, and understandings shared by most Americans. We're told that if you don't like what you see on TV, don't blame the industry, blame yourself. This book dispels the myth that the television industry is just giving viewers the programming they want to see and, thus, we as viewers are 'responsible' for the existence of shows like Fear Factor and yet another Survivor. In fact, Eileen Meehan explains, viewers exert no demand in the market for ratings, advertising slots, program production, or telecasting. She also counters the idea that TV programs reflect our culture directly. Introducing us to the political economy of television, Meehan covers programming, corporate strategies, advertising, the misnomer of 'competition' among networks, and organizations that seek more industry accountability. She tells us why TV isn't our fault_and who's really to blame.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 1 The Blame Game Chapter 2 2 Don't Blame the Viewers Chapter 3 3 Competitors? Rivals? Collaborators? Chapter 4 4 Star Trek, Synergy, and the Transindustrialization of Tribbles Chapter 5 5 If Not the People... Who? Chapter 6 References
Volume

: pbk. ISBN 9780742524866

Description

For more than five decades, we've been told by pundits, commentators, advertisers, scholars, and politicians that television is both a window on the world and a mirror reflecting our culture. We've been led to believe that it shows us the world's events through news programs and, through entertainment programs, reflects the preferences, values, beliefs, and understandings shared by most Americans. We're told that if you don't like what you see on TV, don't blame the industry, blame yourself. This book dispels the myth that the television industry is just giving viewers the programming they want to see and, thus, we as viewers are "responsible" for the existence of shows like Fear Factor and yet another Survivor. In fact, Eileen Meehan explains, viewers exert no demand in the market for ratings, advertising slots, program production, or telecasting. She also counters the idea that TV programs reflect our culture directly. Introducing us to the political economy of television, Meehan covers programming, corporate strategies, advertising, the misnomer of "competition" among networks, and organizations that seek more industry accountability. She tells us why TV isn't our fault-and who's really to blame.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1 1 The Blame Game Chapter 2 2 Don't Blame the Viewers Chapter 3 3 Competitors? Rivals? Collaborators? Chapter 4 4 Star Trek, Synergy, and the Transindustrialization of Tribbles Chapter 5 5 If Not the People... Who? Chapter 6 References

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