The article I chose to analyze was about the lack of television stations using their air time for their specialized programming. Many television stations have jump on board the reality TV band wagon and have left their specialized stations to join the masses in entertainment of a different form. The specific networks such as, MTV, Discovery, History and National Geographic are playing television shows that have nothing to do with the networks title. They have deemed this act the television stations are performing as bait-and-switch chicanery. The stations have, “been subverted by television executives who seem determined to give their cable network audiences something that is not advertised correctly in the name of the network itself (Wiley Periodicals, Inc, 2010) .” It is becoming more and more common that we see television station changing. There is becoming less and less truth in their advertising of their network name because of their broadcasts. “What was once an amazing entertainment media development (Wiley Periodicals, Inc, 2010) ”, is now main stream and a cop out, going from quality broadcasting to what reality television with no core.
Bibliography
Wiley Periodicals, Inc. (2010). Editorial: Truth in Advertising. Journal of Popular Culture , 669-670.
You are seeing these specialized channels adopting more reality! For instance the History Channel has a show called Stan Lees Superhumans. The show is about people who posses unique abilities similar to superheros? What does that have to do with history? On CMT (Country Music Television) the channel has trasformed from a country music channel to a channel more about reality shows too. Its sad to see these channels jump on the reality bandwagon versus sticking to what their main viewer base originally tuned in for.
ReplyDeleteInteresting article you chose for your analysis, very similar to Tyler Gray's his was about John and Kate Plus Eight and the popularity of mindless reality television shows. I mentioned in my comment on his post that I think money is the driving force behind this. The majority of the American public seems to really enjoy watching these drama filled reality shows, the more people watch your station the more money you make. Therefore these stations are picking up these shows probably to make money to stay afloat. I am not certain it is all for profit soley as the economy is so bad. I wonder if these networks have become so budget tight that they needed to expand out in order to stay on?
ReplyDeleteI agree more stations are increasing the reality shows which can be disheartening even though I understand the economical side. If I turn my station to the History channel, I expect to get history just as one expects to get sports when on ESPN.
ReplyDeleteJoe,
ReplyDeleteMTV maybe the greatest example of your article's premise. I remember when MTV actually played music videos 24/7!! They would have the Top 10 of the day during prime hours and at night they would play heavy metal music on Headbanger's Ball!! Talk about some memories!
Now all you see are reality shows and talk shows. I quit watching the channel when Beavis & Butthead went off the air. It's just amazing how the Music TeleVision(MTV) doesn't play music videos any more.
GREAT ARTICLE!!