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Introduction to Electronic Media
Electronic Media: Class 10, Television Programing
Electronic Media: Class 10, Television Programing
1 Television News
1.1 Sources
Network TV
morning talk shows
evening news
Cable News channels
all-news stations
Local News
most local origination content is news
cheap
profitable
1.2 News Gathering
16mm film
electronic news gathering
satellite news gathering
digital news gathering
1 Types of Television Programming
1.1 Network programming
original programming funded by, produced for, and distributed by the major TV and cable networks
1.2 cable programming
originates and distributes directly to its franchisees
1.3 syndication
TV programming sold by distribution companies to local TV stations and cable services
off-network
first-run
1.4 local origination
programs produced by local TV stations or cable companies for their own viewers
local news
local sports
local talk shows
2 Network Television Programming
2.1 Television Networks
Big Four
CBS
NBC
ABC
Fox
Netlets
CW
WB
UPN
MyNetwork TV
Paxson
Affiliate System
200 independently owned stations
national coverage
large audiences for national advertisers
affiliate agreements with a network
network compensation
affiliates charge retransmission consent fees
networks allow affiliates to sell additional ad time during network programs
cleared vs. preempted programming
2.2 Broadcast Season
Fall
late-September
mid-December
Spring
late-January
beginning of May
runs
once 39 episodes
most common is 22 episodes
6 or 13 guaranteed
if 6, then order 7 more for 13
if performing well, order “back 9”
short runs for cable
as few as 6
as many as 13
2.3 Production
Majors (Movie Studios)
Sony
Twentieth Television
Warner Brothers
Paramount
NBC Universal
Walt Disney Studios
Independents
Chuck Lorre
Two and Half Men
Big Bang Theory
Dick Wolf
Law and Order
Jerry Bruckheimer
Amazing Race
CSI
Imagine Entertainment
2.4 Program Development
the “pitch”
written synopsis
concept
script
development
producers
agents
lawyers
“step-deal” for a “property”
producer holds option to develop the program
studio accepts project for development
right of first refusal
revise or “punch up” the script
creates a “log line”
network orders a “pilot” episode
producer produces a pilot
network evaluates pilot
test audiences
program executives
orders changes or cancels development
series appears on network schedules
2.5 Production is Expensive
multipart network miniseries
common on HBO and Showtime
cost between $7–12 million per hour
movies of the week
“made for cable”
cost $5–8 million per hour
personal tragedy, disease
hour-long dramatic series
adventure
action
cost $2.5 and 4 million per hour
half-hour comedies
situation comedies
cost $1.5–3 million per hour
reality television programs
game shows
news documentaries
competition programs
3 Cable Programming
3.1 Theatrical Movies
released to cable a year after theatrical
multipay platforms
exclusive deals with pay channels
package deals with studios
3.2 Original Movies
keeps cable channels competitive
couples cable showing with theatrical run
3.3 Cable Series
regularly scheduled high profile series
more TV production is for cable than network
lower costs than broadcast networks
independent production companies
runaway productions outside California and New York
shorter runs
more frequent showings
4 Public Television Programming
4.1 Public Broadcasting System
member stations
charges members a fee
funds production of programs
stations decide what and when to broadcast, unlike network model
“core schedule”
reruns contribute to cumulative audience
4.2 programming
news and public affairs
cultural programs
children’s programming
special interest shows
“the idea of providing the public with an independent point of view is sometimes controversial” (Dominick, Messere, Sherman)
5 Syndication
5.1 marketplace
insatiable hunger for content
syndicators: companies that sell programs directly to stations
estimated to be $9 billion annual business
buyers: stations that acquire content from syndicators
local television stations
cable services
programming
movies
network reruns
talk shows
music videos
how-to shows
competition series
5.2 NAPTE Convention
National Association of Television Programming Executives
early January
trade show for connecting syndicators and buyers
mostly US-based but increasingly international
5.3 MIPCOM markets
normally in October
Cannes
largest international television syndication market
also MIPTV in the summer
5.4 movies
usually sold in packages
arrangement in the post-World War II era
television stations need content
movie studios needed revenue from people staying home watching TV
pricing varies
“A” pictures
“B” movies
5.5 off-network syndication
programs once on a network
pricing varies
size of television market
popularity of show in network run
number of programs available
stripping
historically 100 episodes is necessary
ideal number is 130 episodes
260 weekdays a year
showing a series each weeknight in a daypart
5.6 first-run syndication
programs that debut that did not premiere on a network
cheap and easy-to-produce
game shows
talk shows
occasional dramatic series
5.7 syndication payments
cash
barter
syndicator provides the program
free
reduced cost (“cash plus”)
syndicator places own ads
5.8 market clearance
syndicators try to patch together many markets
large market clearance means large national audience for advertisers
6 Local Origination
6.1 local television stations producing own programming
local news
local talk shows
local sports
6.2 local programming forms resemble AM radio programming
6.3 programming reflects local interests
7 Programming Strategies
7.1 define potential audience
7.2 audience flow
tuning inertia
lead-in
7.3 counter programming
attract an audience different from competing stations
7.4 challenge programming
head-to-head with same type of programming