SKU: 3355320034

Television Today and Tomorrow: It Won't Be What You Think

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Television Today and Tomorrow: It Won't Be What You ThinkIn recent years, the media has been awash in exuberant tales of the arrival of the information superhighway, when television will explode with exciting possibilities, offering some 500 channels as well as a marriage of TV and computer that will provide, on command, access to the latest movies, magazines, newspapers, books, sports events, stock exchange figures, your bank account, and much, much more. And the major TV networks, pundits add, will be

In recent years, the media has been awash in exuberant tales of the arrival of the information superhighway, when television will explode with exciting possibilities, offering some 500 channels as well as a marriage of TV and computer that will provide, on command, access to the latest movies, magazines, newspapers, books, sports events, stock exchange figures, your bank account, and much, much more. And the major TV networks, pundits add, will be doomed to extinction by this revolution in cable, computers, and fiber optics. But in Television Today and Tomorrow, Gene Jankowski--former President and Chairman of the CBS Broadcast Group--and David Fuchs--also a former top executive at CBS--tell a different story. They predict a bumpy road ahead for the information superhighway, and the major networks, they say, are abundantly healthy and will remain so well into the next century.
The information superhighway, Jankowski and Fuchs admit, will dramatically increase the distribution channels, but it will have little impact on the amount of programming created--and this may spell disaster. The authors show how the networks began as a way to provide programs to local stations (who could not afford to produce their own), who in turn provided the distribution that gave networks access to mass audiences and ultimately large advertising dollars. They then offer us an inside look at television production--showing us, for instance, a veteran scriptwriter putting together a breakfast table scene for "Cloud Nine"--to underscore how much effort goes into producing just two minutes of primetime programming. They reveal that the present 20 channels require some 20,000 hours of programming each year, which is more than all the Broadway plays produced in this century, and they conclude that without a dramatic increase in programming (which won't happen if only because of the very finite supply of talent), the superhighway will be jammed bumper-to-bumper with reruns, old movies, and inexpensive programming aimed at tightly focused audiences ("narrowcasting" as opposed to "broadcasting"). This is hardly the bonanza the pundits have promised. The authors point out that the media blitz about the new technology has hardly focused on programming, or on funding, or on what needs these 500 channels will fill. The major networks, on the other hand, will remain the only means of reaching the whole country, and the only channels that offer a full schedule of current, live, and original programs, free of charge. And thus they will continue to attract most of the audience of TV viewers. The real loser in the cable revolution, the authors contend, is PBS, whose role as an alternative to network TV has been usurped by cable stations such as The Discovery Channel and Nickelodeon.
This is a brass tacks look at television with an eye on the bottom line by two men who boast over sixty years of experience in the medium. If you want to understand television in America, where it came from and where it is going, you will need to read this book.
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SKU: 3355320034

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I.T.
Natrona Heights, US
★★★★★ 3
Not the best, but not the worst either
Format: Hardcover
By any means not the funniest book in the series, only the one on Krusty the Clown was more un-funny; but still a worthy addition to your collection and, just like all the others from the series providing a retrospective of anecdotes you might have forgotten.
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Reviewed in the United States on July 22, 2012
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Pen Name
Waukegan, US
★★★★★ 1
One Star
Format: Hardcover
The book I received had 3 pages cut out of it.
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Reviewed in the United States on August 17, 2014
G
Ghost Mutt
Fort Morgan, US
★★★★★ 2
Not that great
Huge "The Simpsons" fan. I watched all the episodes and read a lot of the comics and enjoy most. This one however was quite boring. Turns out I'm just not a big fan of Chief Wiggum. I really enjoyed The "Homer" and "Bart" book. But not this one. Maybe if you love Wiggum you'll love it. If you're not too fond of him then I wouldn't buy it.
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Reviewed in the United States on March 28, 2013
J
Justine
Dallas, US
★★★★★ 3
Good for my collection.
Format: Hardcover
This was another quick and entertaining read. This instalment wasn't as enjoyable as some of the other books but it was still good. I'm glad to have it in my collection.
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Reviewed in the United States on May 27, 2014
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Verified Purchase
Sara Reads Romance
Lake Worth, US
★★★★★ 4
SO GOOD!
Format: Audiobook
I haven’t read a YA or a thriller in such a long time so having both of these combined in one book was an absolute pleasure because it was such a fun book to read! This is my first full length novel by this author, I’ve read MANY of her fanfiction writings and they are truly top tier, and I knew this would be just as good as, if not better. And to no surprise, it was. There was a plethora of secrets and a ton of mystery sewn in throughout this book. It kept me guessing the entire time, which I absolutely love about thrillers. It took me a little bit to get into it after the first few chapters but once I did, I was thoroughly sucked into it. I read from chapter 5 on in one sitting. That epilogue.. SO GOOD! And I really want more. I highly recommend this if you’re looking for an intriguing, easy, filled with mystery, suspense, and something different. P.s. I would thoroughly enjoy a romance book between Jodi and Julian. PLEASE AND THANK YOU! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
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Reviewed in the United States on May 16, 2025

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