THE HISTORY OF MASS MEDIA
HISTORY OF TELEVISION
Who invented radio?
Who invented television?
INVENTOR OF THE RADIO
Gugliemo Marconi
In 1895, a young Italian named Gugliemo Marconi invented
what he called “the wireless telegraph” while experimenting in his
parents' attic. He used radio waves to transmit Morse code and
the instrument he used became known as the radio.
INVENTOR OF THE TELEVISION
Philo Farnsworth
Philo Farnsworth demonstrated the first working electronic
television on September 7, 1927
ELECTRONIC MEDIA IS IMPORTANT
BECAUSE:
• Helps create and support icons of pop culture
• Provides shared experiences
• Primary ambassador of American & International
culture
• Shapes our language, our values, our political,
social and religious beliefs, our fashion sense and
our lifestyle.
RADIO
Radio emerged as a maritime service during World War I. Early
radio was simply a means of point-to-point communication.
In 1920, Congress allowed private citizens to use radio waves,
setting the stage for radio broadcasting to become a commercial
and entertainment enterprise. Congress sanctioned a private
monopoly – GE, AT&T, Western Electric and the United Fruit
Company to control radio. The five combined their patents to
form RCA.
“Messages” could now be sent to a large number of people
simultaneously. Radio became America’s second mass medium.
RADIO CONTINUED

The Radio Act of 1920 set guidelines for the new industry and
established three key components that still exist today:
The Spectrum is a national resource –
individuals do not own frequencies – they
license their use from the federal government.
Licensees must operate in the public interest.
Government censorship is forbidden.
RADIO CONTINUED
KDKA in Pittsburgh became the first commercial radio station
on November 2, 1920 -- broadcasting news of election returns.
In 1922, there were 28 commercial radio stations. Just six
months later there were 378. Early radio stations were often
owned by newspapers or department stores.
About 12 million U.S. homes had a radio in 1930, nearly half of
the population. By 1940 that figure was 28.5 million. Car radios
became standard equipment.
TELEVISION
 TV was introduced to the public at the 1939 New York
World’s Fair, but development stalled during WWII. David
Sarnoff, the head of RCA, and William Paley, the head of
CBS, became instrumental in the growth of the television
industry.
 TV sets went on sale in 1946. A small black and white set
cost $200, a console $2500. The median income in the
United States was $3000. TV grew so fast and the demand
for station licenses was so great that the FCC declared a
freeze on new stations.
TELEVISION CONTINUED
Early programming included news, sports, game shows,
sitcoms, children’s programming, variety shows and dramas.
Most programming was live. Videotape was also introduced
late in the decade.
The big three networks – ABC, CBS and NBC – dominated
programming. On any given night more than 90 percent of
viewers were watching one of the big three.
TELEVISION CONTINUED
The sixties brought significant changes to the television
landscape.
Television journalism came of age thanks to several significant
events in American and broadcasting history.
Networks expanded their nightly newscasts to 30 minutes.
The “space race” heated up and networks routinely covered each
launch.
In 1963 President Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas. Networks
suspended their regular programming and commercials for four
days. An estimated 93 percent of American homes watched the
president’s funeral and burial.
CBS anchor Walter Cronkite earned the title, “the most trusted
man in America.”
TELEVISION CONTINUED
 CNN signed on the air on June 1, 1980. Other cable networks soon
followed. Cable networks began to take a significant percentage of
viewers and advertising dollars from the dominate Big Three networks.
 Remote controls and VCRs changed the way people watched television.
 The switch from analog to digital transmission begins in earnest. Highdefinition television begins a slow, but steady growth in programming.
TELEVISION STATISTICS
• The average American watches close to four hours of TV each
day.
• 90% of US households have 2 or more TV sets.
• 81% of children ages 2 – 7 watch TV alone and unsupervised
• 70% of day care centers use TV during a typical day
TELEVISION STATISTICS
 54% of 4-6 year olds would choose to watch TV rather than
spend time with their father.
 Children who watch 10 or more hours of TV a week suffer
negative academic effects.
 Average American child ages 2 -11 watches TV 20 hours a
week.
 By age 18, the average American child sees 200,000 violent
acts on TV.
 By age 18, children witness almost 20,000 murders on TV –
most by handguns.
TELEVISION STATISTICS
• 73% of people in TV dramas who commit violent acts go
unpunished.
• 47% of violent situations show no real harm to victims and
58% show no real pain.
• 4% of violent programs show nonviolent alternatives to solve
problems
• 80% of Hollywood executives thing there is a link between TV
violence and real live violence.
• What do you think?
TELEVISION STATISTICS
 During Saturday morning cartoons there are typically more than 200 junk
food commercials.
 At least 12 medical studies link excessive television watching to increasing
obesity rates.
 In 1963, 4.5% of children ages 6-11 were seriously overweight. By 2009, this
percentage had more than tripled.
 Before graduating high school, the average US child will see 360,000
commercials
GOOD POINTS OF TV:
• Television is a “window on the world” for news and
information.
• Television provides escape and relaxation.
• Television introduces new ideas and information.