CCCBroadcasting2016

Hyperdiegesis- Writer Matt Hills defines it as “the creation of a vast and detailed narrative space, only a fraction of which is ever directly seen or encountered within the text, but which nevertheless appears to operate according to principles of internal logic and extension”.

Hills, equates it to an iceberg where the narrative presented represents the 10% visible above water, but is so well constructed that the audience can imagine the 90% that is still hidden.

It is also known as “World-Building”.

See the example below:

Why do you think hyperdiegeis is such a good idea for storytelling?

I think that hyperdigesis is a great way to not only pull in the viewers and they become so invested in the front story as well as the back story they are willing to go to great lengths to be apart of that world even though it is fictional. 

the link below describes how to use hyperdigeises (world-building)

http://laurensapala.com/a-better-way-to-use-worldbuilding-backstory-and-multiple-pov-to-write-a-kick-ass-series/

25 things to know about world-building :

http://terribleminds.com/ramble/2013/09/17/25-things-you-should-know-about-worldbuilding/

Comic-con is another example of the effects of a hyperdiegises story line. People get so emotionally invested in these fictional worlds and characters. Comic-con was put together to celebrate different characters and fictional shows.

Nicole DiDio- Chapter 9

How can you conclude that ABC Television changed the world of sports in the 1960′s and 1970′s?

ABC TV changed the world of sports in America in the 1960′s. They were the first channel to air the super bowl in 1967 as well as ‘Monday Night Football: in 1970. ABC sky rocketed once they began focusing on covering popular sporting events. ABC’s coverage of the summer 1972 Olympics attracted %52 of the TV audience in full. “Only Connect: A Cultural History of Broadcasting in the United States,” 4th edition, Michele Hilmes pg. 274.

Watch this short clip of ABC Sports Silver Anniversary in 1978 to get a good idea of the history of ABC Sports and their accomplishments in sporting event coverage!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fqCwwYOiIFg

ABC moved into the position of sports leader as a strategy to improve its ranking, but it did much more than that. ABC changed the world of sports in our nation and made them “an event” to watch with family and friends. As technology in this time advanced, watching sports on ABC became of higher quality due to multiple camera coverage, quick editing, instant repay, and an enhanced picture. ABC helped sports become a fundamental element in watching TV, and it changed sporting events forever. 

Check out this article to see more of ABC Sport’s coverage. Make sure to start on August 11, 1961 for more relevant information.

http://home.earthlink.net/~hdtv/History/ABC-USdark/milestones1960.htm

Watching popular sporting events on TV became an American trademark, thanks to ABC and sporting teams had much gratitude for this outbreak. ABC motivated sports to up their game organizationally, economically, and even rules on the field. Sporting events wanted to be covered by ABC so they even changed some of the rules through out the years to accommodate the formatting of TV and gain presence. It is safe to say what an affect ABC Sports had on our nation and the way we view sporting events today. Thanks to ABC Sports, our world of sports changed forever!

Lastly, check out this memorable timeline by ESPN on ABC Sports to get a better understanding of their impact on sporting events on television.

http://www.espn.com/abcsports/wwos/milestones/1960s.html

Thank you, ABC Sports!

Main Source of Information: “Only Connect: A Cultural History of Broadcasting in the United States, 4th Edition, Michele Hilmes pg. 274-276.”

Pictures:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Broadcasting_Company

  Radio has the power to reach and  influence those who listen!

Radio was not available to all people during the early 1930′s. In fact when President Franklin Roosevelt (1933-1945) was commander in chief during his first term in the year 1935, only 10% of the nations farms had electricity; Texas alone was at the 2.3% mark. Due to this media divide, Roosevelt started the Rural Electrification Administration (REA). The date was March 12, 1933, and the first Fireside Chat was broadcast and the estimated listeners reached 60 million American homes. Fireside Chats were the venue that President Roosevelt used to reach out to the people across the land using the airwaves.The first of the 30 chats was in response to the “Banking Crisis” where people were swarming the banks to take out their money. After his broadcast, the American people once again put their trust in the banks following the advice the heard on the radio from the mouth of their president. So we see the power of radio did literally change the course and outlook of an entire nation.

http://tunein.com/radio/FDR-Fireside-Chats-1933-1944-p602767/

 The power of radio can unleash fear and trembling to the listening ear. The date was October 30, 1938 and earth was being invaded by aliens. Radio informed the land that it was under attack by Martians. The news reporter was Orson Welles, the arena was The Mercury Theater in New York. The Columbia Broadcasting System and its affiliated stations aired H.G. Wells “War of the Worlds.” Although this was later dismissed as a hoax, people panicked, the newspaper offices were flooded, and calls bombarded the police stations. 

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2005/06/0617_050617_warworlds.html

 Radio is a medium that can reach around the world, the effects of its power can be traced back to the tongue of those who speak out from behind the microphone. From the first Fireside Chat in 1933 concerning the bank crisis until the last on Monday June 12, 1944 titled “Opening Fifth War Loan Drive, radio played a vital part in the history of our government.

 Joseph Goebbels wrote an article placing radio as a great power comparing it to the printing press. “The Eight Great Power” he stated “the radio will be for the twentieth century what the press was for the nineteenth century. With appropriate charge, one can apply Napoleon’s phrase to our age, speaking of the radio as the eighth great power. Its discovery and application are of truly revolutionary significance for contemporary life. Future generations may conclude that the radio has as great intellectual and spiritual impact on the masses as the printing press before the beginning of the Reformation. Goebbels was a German politician and Reich Minister of propaganda in Nazi Germany from 1933-1945.

http://research.calvin.edu/german-propaganda-archive/goeb56.htm

http://www.history.com/topics/world-war-ii/joseph-goebbels

Beginning in the 1980s with Turner’s Cable News Network (CNN), cable companies began their journey in nichification: expand in a type of specialized programming that already existed but not in such a concentrated form. 

What motive is there for cable companies to nichify?

These new nichified channels were usually wildly successful, even if they didn’t start out that way. These channels targeted a specific audience, whether it be by age, sex, or general interest, and cable companies put out exactly what those audiences wanted to see. There would always be an audience for these channels, therefore the company would always be making money.

You can read more about nichification here: http://thevoicebureau.com/what-true-nichification-feels-and-looks-like/

An example of a hugely successful niche channel is the Entertainment & Sports Network, or ESPN. By 1980 ESPN would become an important player in national sports coverage, winning the rights to MLB games, and airing sports that usually had a hard time finding air time like hockey and tennis.

Another good example of a niche channel would be MTV. MTV brought something entirely new to the cable universe. They started the trend of the music video. The channel targeted 14-34 year olds by adding visuals to their musical enjoyment. MTV later expanded to VH1 to serve an older demographic, BET arose to focus on Black artists and music, and the Nashville network came about for those that enjoyed country tunes. 

“Though newspapers had been among the first to try out the new medium of radio in the 1920s, and several large publishers owned powerful and influential stations, the Depression provoked a split between pro- and anti-radio forces, with many publisher claiming that radio was siphoning off not only readers but also advertisers, in a tight market”. (Pg. 98)

Only Connect : A Cultural History of Broadcasting in the United States, Fourth Edition by Michele Hilmes, page-98.

“Media wars are conflicts between existing and emerging media industries which take place at the time of technological innovation in communication”.

http://www.durenberger.com/resources/documents/press-radiowars-jack.pdf

What conclusions can I draw about the Press - Radio War in 1920 ?

America’s broadcasting was in a battle situation between the old media and the new media during the war in early 1920, and it’s known as Press-Radio War. The newspaper and film industry as the old media was considered the emergence of the radio as a feud for them because the emergence of radio was introduced the masses to a new term of technology invention that called cable. According to the media conflict in that era, economic is one of the aspects that induced to the Press-Radio War, the media industries such as newspaper, film industry, and radio are feared that their readers or advertiser moved to other media competitors and lost it profits. However, the readers and advertiser are the largest sources of profit for the media industry, through the rating program and commercial. Meanwhile, the economic is not one of the major issues that caused Press-Radio War, ‘status quo’ that leads to social control and power also contributed to its. The media industries fought over the territory of which industries are able to control the area of the dissemination of news. The media industries also made the efforts to preserve the stability of the dissemination of information, which is under the power of its territory. However, the conflicts between media industries had impacted the pattern of social communication in that era. 

Can you assess the importance of John Walson’s advent of cable television?

In 1948, the FCC put a “freeze” on the licencing of television stations. (HIlmes, 178) This prohibited new stations from forming, so people were to rely on already established ones transmitting from cities such as New York and Philadelphia. (Hilmes, 179) The problem arose, however, that out-of-the-way locations, miles from these cities and often with mountains or other geographical deterrents in between that interfered with television signals, were not able to receive these transmissions; or, at least, they were not able to receive them well. (Hilmes, 179) This would ultimately lead to the advent of cable.

Cable sprang up in three states, Arkansas, Oregon, and Pennsylvania, at approximately the same time. (California Cable and Telecommunications Association (CCTA)) While some people credit Ed Parsons of Astoria, Oregon for being the father of cable television (Genzlinger), John Walson Sr. had made cable possible for the residents of Mahanoy City, Pennsylvania one year prior to Parsons in 1948. (Broadband Cable Association of Pennsylvania (BCAP)) Walson sold television sets and, because of the poor reception the Appalachian Mountains caused, his business was being affected. (BCAP) As a solution, Walson put an antenna on top of a nearby mountain (similar to what is depicted in the photograph above) and, using twin-lead antenna wires, fed the signal through to the television sets in his store. (BCAP) Needless to say, television sales boomed after consumers saw how clear Walson’s cable system allowed the picture to be. (BCAP) Walson was then able to use coaxial cables and “self-manufactured “boosters” (amplifiers)” to provide an even better picture to the homes of people all over Mahanoy City. (BCAP)

John Walson’s idea for cable television would be copied by others in the Pennsylvania area (Genzlinger) and would be re-conceived in other parts of the country. (CCTA) Cable would become so popular that by the 1960′s, the FCC would issue another freeze, this time on the growth of cable, due to it out-competing local programmers. (CCTA) As remarkable of an idea as cable television turned out to be, it was only a matter of time before it was made possible. As I’ve stated, the concept came about in three different states, all roughly at the same time, so the credit can’t go to Walson or Parsons as much as it could go to the FCC for starting its freeze on television licencing that allowed this phenomenon to occur in the first place.

Sources:

“History of Cable Television,” Broadband Cable Association of Pennsylvania, 2016, Web (Accessed 11 Oct. 2016) http://www.pcta.com/about/history.php

“History of Cable,” California Cable and Telecommunications Association, 2016, Web (Accessed 11 October 2016) https://www.calcable.org/learn/history-of-cable/

Gezlinger, Neil. “My Father, the Cable Pioneer,” The New York Times, 24 Aug. 2012, Web (Accessed 11 Oct 2016) http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/26/arts/television/my-father-the-pioneering-cable-guy.html?_r=0

Communications media are being developed each day; to ensure proper regulations and fairness in the industry, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) plays a key role in defending the public’s communications infrastructure and monitoring its operations.

FCC overseas interstate and international communications by radio, television, wire, satellite, and cable. “Among other things, the FCC is responsible for the organized development and subsequent operation of broadcast services, as well as regulating competition among communications companies.” (Encyclopedia of Business)

This article gives more details on the structure, history and functions of the FCC: http://www.referenceforbusiness.com/encyclopedia/Fa-For/Federal-Communications-Commission-FCC.html#ixzz4Mib0NDmw

The rules for commercials and non-commercials stations are one example of FCC regulations. While Commercial radio companies get support through the sales of advertisements, noncommercial stations may not broadcast commercials or other promotional announcements on behalf of organizations- even if it’s a profit entity for the station.

Read more on FCC rules or commercial and noncommercial radio: https://www.fcc.gov/media/radio/public-and-broadcasting#ACT

Another example is the guidelines required by FCC in owning a radio or TV station. Upon being granted a construction permit and license for operation, the licensee now has an obligation to issue fair and concise information to the public in an ethical manner. In early 1981, the FCC terminated the license of Miami’s WMJX-FM 96.3 due to violations by management.

Here is an edited clip of WMJX 96.3 final broadcast: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7-uyIKn_JmI

 While FCC designed other ways to take over other communications platforms, like the internet, some argued that it’s time for them to get eliminated, in other words, the commission no longer serves a purpose. What would result if the Federal Communications Commission no longer exists? Journalist and software engineer Declan McCullaugh states that “The venerable FCC, created in 1934, is no longer necessary.”

FCC plays an important role in the industry. Without the commission, there will be no enforcement of communications related laws and no one to regulate standards of decency. The public would have no protection from mass media. “Like it or not, the FCC is essential to the future of the media in the U.S.”

Find out why the FCC matters: http://www.freepress.net/blog/2013/11/07/why-fcc-matters

Only Connect: A Cultural History of Broadcasting” 3rd edition, Michele Hilmes, p 160-163

If you can’t beat ‘em, join ‘em.

This is probably how most cable companies feel in the 21st century. Comcast, for example, is still one of the biggest and well known cable companies, but is transforming and buying other companies that will help it stay known throughout this media change. Comcast now is in competition with the internet and everything it has to offer. 

Here’s a list of the former and current owned/partnered with companies:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_assets_owned_by_Comcast

ABC started the phenomenon of streaming their shows online after they aired on the network in 2006. Then in 2007, came Hulu, a joint venture between NBC, Fox, and ABC/Disney (owned by Comcast) which offered a mixture of television, film, and web-created content free to viewers. Hulu expanded tremendously in a few short years. They launched Hulu Plus in 2010 to expanding into international partnership in 2011. Hulu started to producing it’s own series in 2011.

Everything you need to know about Hulu:

http://www.hulu.com/welcome?orig_referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2F

Along with Hulu being a major competitor to everyday cable, Netflix is also threatening television cable. Netflix, the highly successful DVD subscription service that branched out into online distribution in 2007. Over the next few years, streaming began dominance over DVDs, and by 2011 Netflix had announced its entry into the original programming as well. In August 2010, Netflix reached a five-year deal worth nearly $1 billion to stream films from Paramount, Lionsgate and Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. (also partnering with Comcast).

Some more information about Netflix:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Netflix

Cable TV relies on the willingness of viewers to pay ever-higher monthly subscription fees for access to material beyond the over-the-air networks. Not only can you get the network television series on Hulu and Netflix, but now original series as well. It seems as though Comcast knows how to stay “in the loop” with partnering with two major companies that could’ve potentially ruined it in the future.

What would happen if cable in general wasn’t around anymore, and how would it effect Comcast?

Howard Stern is one of the most noted and controversial figures in broadcasting. 

Stern’s outlandish commentary caused his notoriety to soar in radio broadcasting, allowing him to become one of the top earners in its history. 

“The original shock jock, Howard Stern, put a slightly different face on the ‘hyper-democratic’ world of talk.” 

“Only Connect: A Cultural History of Broadcasting” 3rd edition, p 331

To learn more about Howard Stern’s journey to the top, click here: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zrjtufb5vsM

However, Stern’s racy comments on-air comments have not come without a cost. He has been fined almost $3 million by the FCC on numerous counts of indecency. Yet, it has not affected the overall success of his career. In 2004, Stern signed a five-year deal with Sirius worth $500 million and signed on for another $500 million in 2010. His success has also extended beyond radio into book and television deals, with his most recent stint as a judge on America’s Got Talent. 

http://content.time.com/time/business/article/0,8599,1141769,00.html

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2010/12/09/howard-sterns-sirius-deal-the-400-million-contract.html

http://www.sheknows.com/entertainment/articles/850129/done-deal-howard-stern-will-judge-americas-got-talent

Why do you think Howard Stern is so wildly popular?

“…I appreciate Howard’s honesty and willingness to go against the tide of public opinion.”

http://www.hitfix.com/news/10-reasons-why-i-listen-to-howard-stern

 The Classic Network System

The Classic Network system lasted from 1960 to about 1980, It is marked by highly centralized network control over all phases of the industry such as production, distribution, and exhibition. This produced a period of tight vertical integration, similar to that of the movie studios before 1947, and of oligopoly because only three networks dominated this period of broadcasting. Production  control stemmed from a system of ownership interests, with multiple ownership interests, with multiple sponsorship limiting the influence of advertisers. 

Color television became the industry standard in 1956, with NBC leading the way because its parent RCA’s color system had won the standardization war. CBS and ABC trailed behind, as the nation’s local stations struggled to rely on black and white until the mid-seventies. Other related areas of industry economics came under investigation in these years. for example, the Nielson ratings system, who numbers appeared completely compromised by network interference.

Only Connect: A Cultural History of Broadcasting in the United States- Fourth Edition pgs.214-215

Examples of Classic Network shows during the 1960s/70s/80s time period

Television under construction: http://sterneworks.org/tvunderconstruction.pdf

Cinema and the age of television: http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/9780470671153.wbhaf096/abstract

Based on what you know, how would you explain The Classic Network System?

The Classic Network system was a TV system that originally showed black and white programming then later progressed to color TV in the 1960s, every TV show ran on a schedule like how it does today. every show having a specific time slot on when it aired and was usually viewed by a large audience unlike today where it’s viewed by a much smaller audience. Producers competed against one another but some struggled to stay afloat in the industry being overrun by shows with a larger audience with a reputation as opposed to a show that had little to no reputation with its audience at all. After all, television was once Americas (and other surrounding nations) favorite pastimes and still is to a degree to this day but with other forms of pastimes such as mobile games and video games, Most of if not all of the classic television shows have seen a decline in viewings as a result. The Classic Network System is still around today but with less viewers and decreased in popularity. 

Let’s Keep Their Attention

 During the early days of radio, it was important to keep the listeners ready for more. Hollywood, advertisers, and radio needed a way to bond together in order to captivate and intrigue the listening audience. One way in particular was to have consistent scheduling. U.S. radio developed this plan to have programs air on the same day and time which would encourage audiences to build their schedules around their favorite shows. pg. 87

http://www.old-time.com/weekly/

 One quest of U.S. radio was to keep the audience listening all day, to the same station if possible. The goal of this practice was to maximize the exposure of the products and performers to the listening public. A radio show titled ESCAPE would have families gather around to listen and find out where the next trip would take them. One episode, “A Shipment Of Mute Fate, “which aired on 10/15/47, told the story of an ocean liner with its passengers and crew haunted by a deadly snake loose aboard their ship. The last two minutes tells who portrayed the cast, the production crew, where the next adventure will take you and what you will encounter. They would also play a reminder on when to tune in for the next episode. The announcer also includes the call letters of the station along with the “This is CBS where 99 million gather every week, the Columbia Broadcasting System.”

http://fullreels.com/en/video/10362329/Old-Time-Radio-ESCAPE-A-Shipment-Of-Mute-Fate

 In these early days, schedules were fairly diverse and the system was stabilized into time slots. This took place with the appearance of networks. Time slots would vary from 15 minutes up to one hour. The shows would start on intervals that would fall on the hour, half-hour or quarter-hour. Stations wanted to keep a constant flow in programming and avoid any dead air time. The way this was accomplished was by filling in with commercials and station identifications between the shows. The U.S. radio then and now continues to be a competitive market. The radio industry relies on sponsorship to remain on the air other than public broadcasters that do not sell commercial airtime. They can also receive funding from institutions, government or listener support.

http://www.nielsen.com/us/en/insights/news/2014/for-advertisers-radio-is-worth-listening-to.html

, Let’s take a look across the ocean into the different broadcast style of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) where program schedules were not like those in the U.S. The BBC’s approach to radio was not for entertainment as a whole but to be an avenue of cultural improvement for the listeners. The  audience needed to consult the program guide and make specific plans to listen and then go about their day when the program was finished. The motivation of this practice was to treat radio programs like special events, unique and occasional, similar to going to a theater or a symphony. The term dead air on the BBC does not have a negative meaning. To maintain respect for the material you will find dead air between programs. Without pressures from networks, sponsors,or agencies the shows here would vary in length and were intermittent. pg.87

Question: How would I compare the ideas? 

The radio broadcasting style in the early days is quite comparable to television today. There are numerous shows today that use the same format in the aspect of hooking their audience to tune back in next time. Growing up I was subjected to soap operas, a vast and ongoing multitude of fights, affairs, and sickness would capture the viewers to see what would happen on the next show. Those shows still continue and the radio soap operas were as a forerunner to today’s entertainment shows by the same name. There are shows today that use the same premise such as American Idol, The Voice, America’s Got Talent, and other various reality shows. The viewer tunes in next time to find out who gets sent home or disappears from the show. 

http://heavy.com/entertainment/2016/04/dalton-rapatonni-who-eliminated-american-idol-tonight-got-kicked-voted-off-finale

The Fairness Doctrine was a controversial policy enacted by the FCC.

As a whole, its purpose was to monitor news in broadcasting through ensuring that public issues were presented from opposing viewpoints. However, many believed that the policy in fact limited free speech and was full of ulterior motives.

 “…’the fairness doctrine, on its face, violates the First Amendment and contravenes the public interest.’”

“Only Connect: A Cultural History of Broadcasting” 3rd edition, p 323

For a fuller understanding on its opposition along with those who supported the policy, see the following:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2ZrdLYtLPx0

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bRZYrFwwN

Ultimately, the Fairness Doctrine was repealed by the FCC in 1987:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/ezra-klein/post/everything-you-need-to-know-about-the-fairness-doctrine-in-one-post/2011/08/23/gIQAN8CXZJ_blog.html

What would happen if the Fairness Doctrine was put in place today?

“ The result of a reinstituted fairness doctrine would not be fair at all.”

http://www.heritage.org/research/reports/1993/10/em368-why-the-fairness-doctrine-is-anything-but-fair

“FM frequency improved sound-for our listening pleasures” 

Frequency modulation (FM) brought higher quality signal and great tone to radio and was considered a revolutionary change in the broadcast business. FM broadcasting stations operate a frequency band from 88 MHz to 108 MHz. This invention was pioneered in the 1930’s by American Engineer Edwin Armstrong.

Armstrong’s approach to this development was due to the limitations of AM (Amplitude modulated) radio, for example, static interference from household appliances and lighting and limited audio quality due to frequency response. What would result if Armstrong did not experiment to solve the problem that plagued AM radio?

AM radio varied the amplitude of radio waves, though it gave listeners a wider reach, it was plagued with statics. Armstrong was told by colleagues that such error could not be eliminated.

Link to a detailed video of the operations of FM and AM frequency: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xn6lzrMJUDs

Armstrong’s determination was a success. He improved sound for our listening pleasures. However, his journey was never an easy one; he was stalled multiple times by depression, rejection and industry players who had their networks built on AM radio.

This link provides more story of Armstrong’s Journey with FM Radio: http://www.cybercollege.com/frtv/frtv020.htm

They all came to a conclusion; Am radio was limiting the industry’s potential and FM radio was accepted as the better alternative. Armstrong had a long and hard labor, but he eventually- gave birth to FM radio. Amidst the success came tragedy and he later committed suicide.

Only Connect: A Cultural History of Broadcasting” 3rd edition, Michele Hilmes, p 162 - 163.

Thomas Dodd

“TV and Violence”

It is not surprising that the next wave of social dystopian concern over television went down precisely this path. Senator Thomas Dodd of Connecticut sprang onto the violence bandwagon in June 1961. ushering in three more years of hearings and investigation on juvenile delinquency, still not a widespread social phenomenon and its links to TV, in particular. 

Once again, Dodd failed to follow through with any kind of meaningful recommendations or remedies. In fact, precisely the kind of programs that Dodd’s researchers had condemned action-adventure shows, westerns, cartoons proliferated on television and became some of the most highly rated shows in both network run and syndication. 

Only Connect: A Cultural History of Broadcasting in the United States: Fourth Edition Michelle Holmes pg.218

Thomas Dodd 70 years later giving a speech in Nurmemberg, Germany

Speech: http://www.connecticutmag.com/Blog/Connecticut-Today/November-2015/Thomas-Dodd-at-Nuremberg/ 

Speech on Gun Control: http://connecticuthistory.org/thomas-j-dodd-and-the-gun-control-act-of-1968/

What is your opinion of TV and Violence?

Television and Violence is mostly associated with and has a major impact/influence on children. Children who watch programs on violent programs on television develop violent tendencies. However, it’s not always television that causes or develops violent tendencies in children. honestly television and violence is over-exaggerated by the media as a whole. 

Nicole DiDio- Chapter 9

“Radio”

What inferences can you make about the growth of underground FM radio in the 1960’s? 

The 1960’s was a huge time for change in our country. Traditions were changing, people were integrating, feminists were fighting, and culture was becoming more diverse. This is why we can infer that it was no surprise for radio to have a huge breakthrough, and break free of the traditional standard ways. People wanted something more offbeat, because that’s the direction life was headed in- they wanted something different! Check out the “Best of FM Radio” in 1969 to get a feel for the radio stations and music of that time! 

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLuK6flVU_Aj7fcjSK88aCcVQYLxQz5pLq 

“It was during the 1960’s that the FM band finally began to reach its full potential, with the low-budget quirky alternative music and personalities often known as underground radio. With AM grinding out top-40 and other standardized formats, FM became the place to tune in for something different, offbeat, and aimed at the counterculture audiences.” (Only Connect: A Cultural History of Broadcasting in the United States) “4th Edition, Michele Hilmes,” pg. 247. Check out this great article to further understand the growth of underground FM radio in the 1960’s and to understand the changes it brought to its audience! 

http://home.earthlink.net/~mrsfanatic/id19.html  

With so much going on in our country, the term “different” was becoming popular as ever. People liked a unique idea, especially in radio. Besides the hippies on FM who played contemporary and alternative sounds, Rock music was progressing at a fast pace. This music became so popular because DJ’s had more freedom to play new and upcoming forms of music. They also talked about political issues between new songs. Read through this Wikipedia section to understand the progression of rock in the 1960’s.  

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Progressive_rock_(radio_format)

Picture: http://home.earthlink.net 

When talking about the future, three companies rise above: Apple, Google, and Amazon (some may include Facebook, making it four). The CEOs of these these promising companies are Steve Jobs at Apple, Jeff Benzos at Amazon, and Larry Page at Google. These men have been referred to as the David Sarnoff or William Paley of the 21 century. 

By 2010, it’s Annual revenues of more than $100 billion made Apple the largest technology company in the world. Apple began in 2003 with what was then called the iTunes Music Store, but didn’t stop there. Apple moved rapidly into radio, television, and film distribution.  

A little insight of what’s new over at Apple:

http://www.apple.com

Building on it’s popularity as a major portal to the web, Google rapidly rolled out a suit of innovative services designed to consolidate their search dominance, such as Gmail, a free webmail program introduced in 2007. By 2009, Google had become the dominant search engine in the United States, beating AOL, Yahoo and Bing by a wide margin.

More information about google:

https://googleblog.blogspot.com

Amazon landed a spot in the top three for being known as the world’s largest online shopping site. Amazon has emerged as a leading site of media distribution, both through the online sale of all manner of media devices and players as well as DVDs, video games, and MP3 downloads, but also now as a provider of streaming video services.

More about Amazon:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amazon.com

What would happen if “New Media” was never found?

If new media was never found, our lives would be completely different. We wouldn’t have these high tech smart phones in our pockets, search engines would be slower, and people would actually have to leave their houses to shop!

These three companies have vastly changed our lives. Apple let’s us have anything we need at our finger tips with their iPhones. You can Goggle a question, and have the answer within seconds. And as far as Amazon goes, you can order something online, and have it at your doorstep within hours thanks to drones. New Media doesn’t stop there, it’s advancing everyday.

A law, which dramatically reduced the important Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regulations on cross ownership, and allowed giant corporations to buy up thousands of media outlets whether is was radio, TV, newspapers, etc,. across the country, controlling the flow of information, in which how it was delivered and received in the United States public. 

The Act was signed by President Bill Clinton in 1996.

Watch this brief 3 minute background below of what it is in a nutshell. 

Do I agree with The 1996 Telecommunication Act, and its outcome?

Originally, I thought it would be a great idea because smaller radio/TV stations would have a bigger company behind them, giving them more demographics to reach. Now, with some investigating this has sadly turned from entertainment (radio) being an art form but now into a business venture. 

Companies that are in the media business now, have not been necessarily interested in bring entertainment to the people listening but rather more importantly to them, put more money in their own company pockets. That is why you may notice that your favorite radio station only plays the same top 40 song over and over again, because the head company regulates that is aired.  

See more information at : http://www.truth-out.org/news/item/34789-democracy-in-peril-twenty-years-of-media-consolidation-under-the-telecommunications-act

Clear Channel, who has now changed their name to iHeartCommunications, Inc. is very proud that they serve 150 markets,  It serves 150 markets through 850 owned radio stations in the U.S as listed in their “About Us” corporate statement. See info below 

http://www.iheartmedia.com/Corporate/Pages/about.aspx

Here is a little more evidence that the Telecommunications Act of 1996, is not as great as some thought it would be. 

http://www.hypebot.com/hypebot/2012/05/the-sad-truth-of-media-consolidation-infographic.html

https://aculturalcollision.wordpress.com/2012/10/22/the-voices-heard-how-is-media-consolidation-affecting-the-music-industry/