Television: History and Production

Internet...

1. When did commercial television broadcasting begin?

1939: President Franklin Roosevelt's opening of the New York World's Fair is broadcast live from NBC's experimental station -- W2XBS -- in New York City.

1941: In July, both NBC (WNBT on channel 1) and CBS (WCBW on channel 2) come on the air with a commercial station, again in New York City. Both stations still exist. They are now WNBC (Channel 4) and WCBS (Channel 2). Further development is halted by World War II.

1946: The war is over, only 6 station are on-air and both networks, NBC and CBS, begin to expand.

1948: Four television networks, (NBC, CBS, ABC, and DuMont), broadcasting over 128 stations, begin a full prime-time schedule (8 to 11pm, Eastern Time), seven days a week.

     In what city?

New York City

     When did television arrive in South Dakota?

Television arrived in South Dakota in May 1953 when KELO-TV began broadcasting in Sioux Falls. Five years later, in November 1958, KCOO (now KABY) goes on the air in Aberdeen.

2. What was the relationship between radio drama and early television programming?

Most early (1948 to 1960) television shows, both dramatic and non-dramatic, originated on radio. For many programs -- The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet (1944-1954), Father Knows Best (1949-1954), Dragnet (1949-1956) -- the transition was easy: the cast performed in a television or film studio instead of a radio station. For the actor, a TV production required a longer time committment. A radio show was normally produced in one day -- a read through in the morning, a "dress" rehearsal in the afternoon, and the performance that evening. A half hour filmed television show required the actor to be in front of the camera for three or four, 10 to 12 hour days.

William Conrad

For other productions, the switch was much more difficult. William Conrad (1920-1994) created the role of U.S. Marshall Matt Dillon in the radio version of Gunsmoke (1952-1961). When CBS decided to bring Gunsmoke to television in 1955, the network executivies decided that although Conrad sounded like a US Marshall, he didn't look like one. At 5' 9" and 270 pounds, the portly, balding, mustached Conrad looked more like a villain than a western hero.

James Arness

At the suggestion of John Wayne, CBS cast James Arness (1923- ), a 6' 7" actor who's major acting credit at the time was the title role in The Thing from Another World (1951). Arness would be Matt Dillon for the next 40 years. First on the television series (1955-1975), then in five made-for-TV Gunsmoke movies.

William Conrad, who was one of radio's most prolific actors, would become a television producer and director. His first major on camera television role was Frank Cannon in Cannon (1971-1976). This was followed by Nero Wolf (1981) and J.L. McCabe, the Fatman, in Jake and the Fatman (1987-1992). William Conrad died of a massive heart attack in February 1994 and was inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame in 1997. Link to Gunsmoke: Radio's Last Great Dramatic Series for more information, including photographs, on the cast, characters and setting of Gunsmoke.

3. Who was television's first super star?

Milton Berle (1908-2002)

4. What was the program?

The Texaco Star Theatre (1948-1956) was an old-fashioned vaudeville variety hour with a half dozen guests each week. Berle, both host and star, worked his way into many of the acts. In 1950, the first year of the Nielson ratings, the "Milton Berle Show" was watched by 62% of those owning TV sets. It has been said that Berle was television's first great "salesman." During his tenure the number of TV homes went from a little under 191,000 to over 21,000,000, an increase of approximately 10,994%.

     From where was it broadcast?

Live from New York City.

5. When was the Golden Age of Television?

1948 to 1960. Although the 12 year period between 1948 and 1960 is remembered for the variety show (Texaco Star Theatre), the sitcom (I Love Lucy) and the western (Gunsmoke), when we talk about the Golden Age of Television we are generally refering to the dramatic anthology programs, such as The US Steel Hour (1953-1963), Alcoa Hour (1955-1957), Kraft Television Theatre (1947-1958), and Playhouse 90 (1956-1961) which were broadcast live from New York City. Begining in 1957, many of these programs were taped before broadcast.

6. Name one major writer who got his start during this period.

William Gibson (1914- ), Ira Levin (1929-2007), Rod Serling (1924-1975), Gore Vidal (1925- )

7. Give the title of one major work (film or play) which began as a golden age television script?

The Miracle Worker (William Gibson), The Days of Wine and Roses (J. P. Miller, 1919- ), 12 Angry Men (Reginald Rose, 1920-2002), Requim for a Heavyweight (Rod Serling), No Time for Sergeants (Ira Levin). Links are to the film adaption in the Internet Movie DataBase.

8. When did television production move from live from New York City to filmed from LA?

1951.

9. What network show is credited with starting the shift to the west coast?

I Love Lucy (1951-1958). CBS wanted to broadcast live from New York. Lucy and Desi didn't want to leave their home in Los Angles. They filmed the show with three cameras (which the film studios said couldn't be done) before a live audience. Because the show was filmed, both coasts got a high quality picture. Link to the I Love Lucy web page at Tim's TV Showcase.

10. What is the process used in developing a television series and selling it to a network?

There are only five major broadcast clients: ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX, and CW. All of the clients are owned by production houses. All network prime time series are produced by the major film studios (Warner Brothers, 20th Century Fox, Universal, Paramount, Disney) or the six TV networks because they have "deep pockets." Ideas come from both the networks and the studios. The concept, the story, the script, and the cast must be approved by both the studio and the network, as well as the show's production company.

After a concept is given the "green light", a pilot episode will be shot. The pilot is often a two hour made for TV movie. Sometimes the characters and concept will be introduced on an episode of an existing series. For example, CBS's Jake and the Fatman (1987-1992) was introduced in a two hour episode-- The Don (1986) -- of NBC's Matlock (1986-1995). Normally between 15 and 20 pilots are produced each season by the major television networks.

If the pilot is accepted, the network will order between four and six episodes. If the series is a succeess, additional episodes will be ordered. There are 22 episodes in a full season.

11. What is the difference between a single camera and a multi- camera shoot?

A single camera shoot is the same technique used by the movie industry.. The multi-camera shoot, which is much closer to live theatre, is the technique developed by the television industry during's it's "Golden Age."

12. Which technique is used for an hour long action-adventure series?

Single camera

     A half-hour sitcom?

Muli-camera

     A soap opera?

Multi-camera

13. How many cameras are used in a multi-camera production?

Three. The center camera is used for the "Master Shot," the left and right camera cover the closeups and over-the-shoulder shots. Most local news programs, which are mult-camera productions, use only two cameras.

14. How many days is a half-hour sitcom in rehearsal/production?

Five days. The director spends the first three days with the actors. Day four the camera crews are brought in, and the camera's location for each scene is determined. Day five is the final dress rehearsal, and the taping of the show. Normally both the final dress rehearsal and the performance are taped.

15. What are the three program sources available to a local station's program director?

1. Network
2. Locally produced
3. Syndicated.

16. What is the major form of original programming produced by a local station?

News and information, including local high school and college sports coverage.

17. What types of programs normally appear in syndication?

Talk shows (Oprah Winfrey), game shows (Wheel of Fortune) and re-runs of old network sitcoms (Cheers, M*A*S*H. Married with Children). The top rated (Rating: 9.5) syndicated television program is Wheel of Fortune.

18. Which shows are usually picked up from the network feed?

The morning news shows (Good Morning, America), the afternoon soaps (Guiding Light), the 5:30 national news (The CBS Evening News ) and the prime time programs (7 to 10pm, Central time).

19. How are radio and television shows financed?

By commercials.

20. What is the basic function of the program?

To attract an audience to watch or listen to the commercials.

21. How many minutes of commercials support a half-hour prime time show?

Eight minutes. Six minutes are sold by the network, and two minutes are available for sale by the local station.

22. What is the standard length of a television commercial?

Thirty seconds.

23. How much would a prime time spot cost on Aberdeen's KABY (Channel 9)?

In the spring of 2006, a prime time 30 second spot on the Aberdeen ABC station, KABY, costs between $ 200 and $ 300. KABY broadcasts to approximately 80,000 TV households in a 16 county area.

24. What is the difference between rating point, share and ranking?

Rating point: The percentage of TV homes watching a program. A rating of 20 points means that 20% of America's TV homes (or 22.5 million homes) are watching the program. Each TV home has approximately 1.5 viewers.

Share: The percentage of TV homes, whose sets are on, watching a program. A 30 share means that 30% of those people who are watching TV at that moment, are watching the program.

Ranking: The position (or place) the show holds in that week's (or season's) list.

25. Which, rating are share, will always be higher?

The share.

26. What readily available source can be used to determine a program's rating?

The Nielsen Ratings (provided by Nielsen Media Research) of television's prime time schedule are published in the Life (or purple) section of the Wednesday (or maybe Thursday) issue of USA Today. TV rating are also published on the Web at TV.Zap2It.com.

27. How many television homes does each rating point represent?

A rating point is equal to 1,128,000 TV homes.

28. Why can a show with a low rating still attract advertisers?

Because that program attracts the kind of audience (meaning: The kind of people who will buy their product) the advertiser wants.

29. What elements, other than the quality of production, can effect a program's rating?

The two major element are (1) a shows competition (You don't want to be scheduled opposite the number one show) and (2) what programs lead and follow your show (You want to be sandwiched between two hit shows).

30. What is currently television's number one show? What is its rating? Its share?

As of March 2nd, television's number one show is Fox's American Idol with a rating of 16.8 and a 25 share; ABC's top rater is Dancing with the Stars (Monday) with a rating of 12.7 and a 19 share; CBS's number one show is CSI with a rating of 10.6 and a 16 share and NBC's top program is Sunday Night Football with a rating of 10 and a 16 share.

As of March 2nd, the average Neilsen rating for the five commercial networks for the current season (2007-2008) are...

1. CBS: 6.8 with a 11 share
2. Fox: 6.7 with a 11 share
3. ABC: 6.1 with a 10 share
4. NBC: 5.4 with a 9 share
5. CW: 1.7 with a 3 share

31. What is television's longest running prime-time dramatic series?

Gunsmoke. 20 years, 1955 to 1975. Link to the Gunsmoke web page on Tim's TV Showcase.

32. What is broadcasting's (radio and television) longest running program?

Guiding Light. 71 years, and still running. It started in Chicago on January 25, 1937 as a 15 minute, 5 days a week, soap. The show was originally about the Reverend Doctor John Rutledge (played by Arthur Peterson) and his Little Church of Five Points in Five Points, a Chicago suburb. The Rev. Rutledge left a lamp, the original "guiding light," burning in his study as a beacon for those who needed help. In 1948 the focus of the show shifted to the Frederick (Papa) Bauer family of Springfield. During the Christmas Episode in December of 2000, Meta Bauer, the daughter of Mama and Papa Bauer remembers...

When I was a girl we used to listen to Reverend Ruthledge at the Church in Five Points. He was the best man I've ever known at finding hope for people in trouble, and I guess that's just about everybody at one time or another. He used to say something I'll never forget. "There is a destiny that makes us brothers. No one goes that way alone. All that we bring into the lives of others, comes back into our own."

The character of the Rev. Ruthledge was inspired by the preaching and guidence of the Reverend Dr. Preston Bradley of the People's Church of Chicago. Link to the GL web pages on soap-new.com.

33. Which regularly scheduled television series has the distinction of drawing the largest audience for a single episode?

M*A*S*H (1972-1983). The 2 hour series finale broadcast in February 1983. It earned a 60.2 rating with a 77 share. Link to the M*A*S*H web page at Tim's TV Showcase.

34. What are the sweeps?

The "Sweeps" are the television rating surveys which "sweep" North America, all 210 television markets, four times a year -- November, February, May and August. Because they use a larger, and more complete sample than the Neilsen index, they give a more accurate idea of what the "local" audience is watching in the smaller markets. It is during "Sweeps" that the networks broadcast...

1. All new episodes of regularly scheduled shows; many featuring special guest stars,
2. Made-for-TV movies with sensational themes and major film and TV stars,
3. The mini-series-- a multi-part, four to twelve hour, made-for-TV movie,
4. Award shows,
5. The premiere of a summer bockbuster movie, and
6. Multi-part documentaries on local and national newscasts.

     Why are they important?

Ratings developed during the "Sweeps" are used by the local station and network to establish their quarterly rate card. The higher the rating, the larger the audience, the more they can charge for a thirty second spot.

35. What effect has cable and home VCRs had on the size of the network's prime time audience?

The commercial network's prime time audience has dropped from a 90 share in the mid 70's, to a 51 share in 2006. Today, only a little over a third third (34%) of the prime time audience is watching the big three networks -- ABC, CBS, and NBC. When the networks lose audience, they also lose ad revenue, and their profits drop.

TV Audience Distribution, 2007
Left: Cable and home VCRs
Right: The 5 on-air networks