The Television History Book

This volume presents an overview by leading media scholars, which traces the history of broadcasting in two major centres of television development and export: Great Britain and the USA. It identifies tendencies that both unite and differentiate these traditions.

Preface

vii

Acknowledgments

ix

Notes on Contributors

x

INTRODUCTION

TV Nations

Michele Hilmes

1

TECHNOLOGIES

Introduction

Michele Hilmes

4

(1)

Television's Prehistory: Radio (The Origins of the Soap Opera)

David Hendy

4

(5)

The Development of Television (High Definition Television 1969-90)

Brian Winston

9

(4)

Cable, Satellite and the Challenge of Digital Media (Digital Distribution, Intellectual Property and the End of TV as We Know It?)

Michele Hilmes

13

(6)

The Internet: From Cold War to Commercialisation

Clare Bratten

19

(3)

INSTITUTIONS: FROM ORIGINS TO STABILITY

Introduction

Michele Hilmes

22

(1)

The Origins of Public Service Broadcasting (British Television before the War)

Glen Creeber

22

(4)

The Origins of Commercial Broadcasting in the US

Michele Hilmes

26

(4)

Post-War Television in Britain: BBC and ITV

Tim O'Sullivan (Grace Wyndham Goldie - Jason Jacobs)

30

(5)

Establishment of the US Television Networks (The 'Other' Networks)

Matthew Murray

35

(5)

Competition and Change in British Television (Television in Wales 1960-80)

Jamie Medhurst

40

(4)

The 'Classic Network System' in the US (Genre Cycles: Innovation, Imitation, Saturation)

Jason Mittell

44

(6)

INSTITUTIONS: CONFLICT AND CHANGE

Introduction

Michele Hilmes

50

(1)

Channel Four and the Redefining of Public Service Broadcasting (Jeremy Isaacs - First Chief Executive of Channel Four (1981-7))

Sylvia Harvey

50

(5)

Public Television and Public Access in the US (Paper Tiger Television)

Daniel Marcus

55

(4)

Satellite, Cable and New Channels in the UK (Rupert Murdoch)

Tom O'Malley

59

(3)

US Television in the Multichannel Age (Protectionism, Deregulation and The Telecommunications Act of 1996)

Michele Hilmes

62

(6)

PROGRAMMING: 1950's-80's

Introduction

Michele Hilmes

68

(1)

Early Television in Great Britain (The Coronation)

Jason Jacobs

69

(3)

Experimental and Live Television in the US (Studio One, 'The Hospital')

Jason Jacobs

72

(4)

ITV: 1955-89: Populism and Experimentation (Mystery and Imagination)

Helen Wheatley

76

(5)

The 'Youth Revolution' and American Television (The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour [CBS, 1967-9])

Aniko Bodroghkozy

81

(5)

The BBC Adapts to Competition (Zircon)

Tom O'Malley

86

(3)

US Networks in the 1970's and 80's (Charlie's Angels)

Elana Levine

89

(6)

PROGRAMMING: NEW VENUES, NEW FORMS

Introduction

Michele Hilmes

95

(1)

Channel Four: Innovation in Form and Content?

John Ellis

95

(3)

Quality Drama in the US: The New 'Golden Age'? (China Beach)

Jane Feuer

98

(5)

The 1990's: Quality or Dumbing Down? (Makeover Shows)

Rachel Moseley

103

(4)

New US Networks in the 1990's (Married ... with Children)

Alisa Perren

107

(5)

Satellite and Cable Programmes in the UK (All Aussie Weekender: Sky One Down Under)

Ros Jennings

112

(3)

US Television Abroad: Exporting Culture (Baywatch)

Lisa Parks

115

(3)

The Global Television Format Trade (Big Brother)

Albert Moran

118

(4)

AUDIENCES

Introduction

Michele Hilmes

122

(1)

From Network to Neo-Network Audiences

Michael Curtin

122

(4)

From Mass to Meanings (Citizens and Consumers)

Justin Lewis

126

(3)

The Ratings System and Its Effects (The A.C. Nielsen Company)

Eileen R. Meehan

129

(3)

The Television Violence Debates (The V-Chip)

Willard D. Rowland, Jr

132

(5)

Audiences and the Internet (Xena and Buffy Fans)

Allison McCracken

137

(4)

Bibliography

141

(14)

Index

155

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The Television History Book

Summary

Table of Contents

Supplemental Materials