Welcome to the homepage for the Eighth Edition of Media Programming by Susan Tyler Eastman and Douglas A. Ferguson (Thomson Wadsworth, 2009).
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(click on any chapter name below to see update information or hypertext links)
PROGRAMMING RESOURCES AND CONSTRAINTS
1 A Framework for Programming Strategies
2 Program and Audience Research
3 Domestic and International Syndication
BROADCAST TELEVISION STRATEGIES
4 Prime-Time Network Television Programming
5 Nonprime-Time Network Programming
6 Television Station Programming
7 Public Television Programming
CABLE TELEVISION STRATEGIES
8 Cable System and Satellite Programming
9 Basic and Premium Subscription Programming
10 Online Video and Audio Programming
RADIO PROGRAMMING
12 Information Radio Programming
Appendix
PROGRAMMING RESOURCES AND CONSTRAINTS
1 A Framework for Programming Strategies
Errata
Nothing yet. Please send any mistakes you find to me at fergusond@cofc.edu -- thanks!
Missing contribution
The following was supposed to appear as boxed material in the new edition (8th Ed.) but was inadvertently omitted:
The DVD Aftermarket
While VHS tapes contributed to the bottom line for a lot of movies for two decades, the explosion in home use of the DVD player has created an additional aftermarket for television series. In 2001, the sale of TV series on DVDs accounted for barely $300 million. Just two years later, the figure had more than tripled to break the one billion dollar mark. One of the big impediments was getting licensing agreements with all the parties involved: actors, directors and other creative professionals entitled to royalties. The biggest problem, however, came in acquiring the music rights. A series might have to negotiate with hundreds of artists and authors whose songs may have been used for only a few seconds as background during a show. Now series producers negotiate those rights up front. But that's not the only outcome of the switch to DVD: In 2002, Fox canceled the animated series Family Guy because of low ratings. In 2003, the DVD of the show's first season sold over one million copies. For the first time ever, a network had to reconsider a cancellation based on aftermarket sales of the show.
Dom Caristi, Ph.D.
Ball State University
Recent Developments
See the Facebook link at the top of this page for recent updates.
Internet links:
Yahoo's list of Television Industry Web sites
Yahoo's
list of Cable Television Industry Websites
A great searchable site is Broadcasting & Cable magazine.
2 Program and Audience Research
Recent Developments
The number of TV homes in the United States will be 114.9 million for the 2009-2010 season, according to Nielsen, which is much higher that the 108 million homes in Chapter 2 (and elsewhere in the book)
See the Facebook link at the top of this page for recent updates.
Internet Links
3 Domestic Syndication
Recent Developments
See the Facebook link at the top of this page for recent updates.Internet Links
BROADCAST TELEVISION STRATEGIES
4 Prime-Time Network Television Programming
Recent Developments
See the Facebook link at the top of this page for recent updates.
We recommend Bill Carter's book Desperate Networks (2006). Normally we do not review books, but this one is fantastic, containing back stories of all the new shows of the previous 5 years. It's the best behind-the-scenes book on networks since the old Three Blind Mice.
Internet Links
2007-2008 primetime spreadsheet
History of Primetime Lineups (see also tviv.org for programming grids)
5 Nonprime-Time Network Programming
Recent Developments
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6 Television Station Programming
Recent Developments
See the Facebook link at the top of this page for recent updates.
Internet Links
7 Public Television Programming
Recent Developments
See the Facebook link at the top of this page for recent updates.
Internet Links
CABLE TELEVISION STRATEGIES
8 Cable System and Satellite Programming
Recent Developments
See the Facebook link at the top of this page for recent updates.
Internet Links
Yahoo's list of Cable Television Industry Websites
9 Basic and Premium Subscription Programming
Recent Developments
See the Facebook link at the top of this page for recent updates.
Internet Links
CED Magazine: a searchable site for broadband
http://www.cablechannel.com/video.htm
10 Online Video and Audio Programming
Recent Developments
What's a "viewser"? A cross between a viewer and a user: A TV viewer who goes online. (according to them)
The book (Television Disrupted) is must-reading for anyone interested in the future of broadband TV. Shelly Palmer is the author; this book is fascinating reading, even if it occasionally makes unsupported claims. Learn more at www.televisiondisrupted.com -- you need to buy a copy! Or get it on interlibrary loan, as I did.
Read more about startups worth watching and the evolution of Web 2.0 at Erick Schonfeld's daily blog, The Next Net.
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Internet Links
RADIO PROGRAMMING
11 Music Radio Programming
Recent Developments
See the Facebook link at the top of this page for recent updates.
Internet Links
12 Information Radio Programming
Recent Developments
See the Facebook link at the top of this page for recent updates.
Internet Links
If you have questions about the book, please send e-mail to fergusond@cofc.edu