Typography, Headlines and Infographics

BROADCAST NEWS 445

Would Abraham Lincoln's

appearance help or hinder him in

today’s political arena?

Television journalism has changed our political process beyond
recognition. The first televised debate between John F. Kennedy and
Richard Nixon helped Kennedy gain supporters because he was more
dignified and attractive than Nixon. Today, televised political debates
are a major part of every campaign. News broadcasters also scrutinize
private lives of our leaders and celebrities more than ever before.

Who Owns the Airwaves?

According to the CIA World Factbook, there are about 21,000 television
stations in the world. Approximately three-fourths of the 2,200 television
stations in the United States are commercial television stations. That
means that they depend on advertising to provide their income. Most of
these stations are affiliated with one of the four major networks—ABC,
NBC, CBS and Fox—that provide the great majority of their programs,
including news programs each evening. Commercial stations produce
some of their own shows, but they must run network programming dur-
ing prime time (the evening hours from 8 to 11 p.m., Eastern Standard
Time). Other television stations are public television stations. They
rely on grants and donations to pay their operating costs.
A local station (a station based in your town or area) produces some
of its own programming (such as news or local talk shows). It also takes
programming from the network it’s affiliated with, such as Lost or 24.
A station may also purchase syndicated programming. Syndicated
programming refers to television shows produced by independent
companies, such as Access Hollywood or Wheel of Fortune. Syndicated
programming also includes shows that are in reruns or have aired for
many seasons, such as The Simpsons or Law and Order.
The signal provided by both commercial and public stations is free
to viewers, assuming they have a receiver and an antenna. Yet millions
of Americans choose to pay for their television by subscribing to digital
cable televison. Digital cable television is one of the fastest-growing
areas of the television industry. Digital cable companies receive signals
from many different sources and then transmit the signals via fiber-
optic cables to consumers.
Digital cable transmits regular network programs as well as 24-hour
news, weather and sports; programming from independent stations;
first-run movies; and special events like the Olympic games. Viewers
can also digitally record television shows and pause, rewind or fast-
forward live shows.
Television networks have branched out into the Internet world, and
many Web sites specialize in streaming television. It is estimated that
one out of every 10 of the world’s Internet users watch online television
programs. Networks such as NBC and ABC now allow viewers to watch
online reruns of their shows, many of which contain commercial ads.
Video-sharing sites such as YouTube have also proven profitable for
networks. NBC and CBS have set up their own channels on the site and
feature teaser clips from many popular programs to entice new viewers.
People can also download commercial-free episodes from services like
iTunes and watch television on their computers or MP3 players.

commercial

television station

a television station that

depends on advertising to

provide its income

public television station

a television station that relies

on grants and contributions to

pay its operating costs

syndicated programming

original television shows

produced by independent

companies. Local stations

purchase this programming

to use during non-network

hours.

digital cable television

television sent to consum-

ers via fiber-optic cables.

Consumers pay to receive

digital cable television

programming.