Blog Assignment 6

• Why were early silent films popular?

Audiences quickly got tired of static films of waves breaking on beaches or vaudeville acts recorded by immobile cameras. To become a mas medium, the early silent films had to offer what books achieved: the suspension of disbelief. They had to create narrative words that engaged an audience's imagination. (page 243)

• What contributions did nickelodeons make to film history?

Nickelodeons flourished during the great European immigration at the turn of the twentieth century. This gave the immigrants an escape from the hard life to the city. Since there were many newly arrived immigrant who were struggling to speak English, these silent films were perfect.

• Why did Hollywood end up as the center of film production?

Hollywood ended up as the center of film production because Southern California offered cheap labor, diverse scenery for outdoor shooting, and a mild climate suitable for year round production. This happened right after movies had become a major industry. The start to this was when Thomas Edison formed the Motion Picture Patents Company, known as Trust, in 1908. 

• What political and cultural forces changed the Hollywood system in the 1950s?

There was a witch hunt for political radicals in the film industry by the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) and they were brought to the famous Hollywood Ten hearings and trials. This committee coerced people from the film industry to declare their patriotism and give up the names of colleagues suspected of having politically unfriendly tendencies. 

• What are the various ways in which major movie studios make money from the film business?

Studios make money on movies from six major sources. First the studios get a portion of the theater box office revenue, which accounts for about 40% of the box office take. Overall box office receipts provide studios with approximately 20% of a movies domestic revenue.Also, about four months after the theatrical release come from the DVD sales and rentals, and digital downloads and streaming. this is about 30% of all domestic film income for major studios. (Page 261

• How do a few large film studios manage to control more than 90 percent of the commercial industry?

Hollywood's commercial film business is ruled by six companies: Warner Brothers, Paramount, Twentieth Century Fox, Universal, Colombia Pictures, and Disney. This is called this Big Six. These six major studios account for for than 90% of the revenue generated by commercial films. To maintain the industries economic stability, management strategies today rely on both heavy advance promotion and synergy. Companies promote new movies, but also in book form, soundtrack, calendars, T-shirts, website, and toy action figures. 

• How is the movie industry adapting to the Internet?

Movies are increasingly available to stream stream or download on mobile phones and tablets. The year 2012 marked a turning point. At this time, movie fans accessed more movies through digital online media than physical copies like DVD and Blue Ray. They wanted to make the film industry for however the customer wanted to view it. So this allows to watch on the internet or the movies and even on DVD. (265)

blog assignment 5

• What were the major technical standards established for television in the 1940's? What happened to analog television?

In the 1940's, the Federal Communications Commission adopted an analog standard based on radio waves for all of the TVs in the United States. Other countries adopted this system as well. These countries included Japan, Canada, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, and Latin American nations. Analog television became replaced by digital signals. Digital signals translate TV images and sounds into binary codes and allow for increased channel capacity and improved image quality and sound.

• How did the sponsorship of network programs change during the 1950s?

In the 1930's and 1940's TV programs were supported by a sponsor. Having a sponsor meant that the advertiser could easily influence the programs content. This all changed in the 1950's. People wanted to take back control. Broadcast networks became extremely unhappy with the arrangement of the sponsors. Because of the growing popularity and growing cost, this allowed for an opportunity to alter this financial setup. For example, a one hour TV show cost a sponsor 35,000. This rose to 90,000 dollars by the end of the decade. Eventually, the head of NBC/RCA and head of CBS diminished the sponsors role. They rose the costs for advertisers which discouraged sponsoring programs. 

• How have computers and mobile devices challenges the TV and cable industries?

Technologies such as smartphones, iPod, iPad, and mobile TV devices are called fourth screen technologies. These new technologies are creating changes in the amount people view television. There are proven statistics that show how much more people watch things through their mobile devices. Some industries are capitalizing on this. For example, Cable vision, Time Warner, and DISH, released iPad apps. This allows them to continue to make money even though it may not be over cable. On the other hand, some other cable programmers aren't fighting to stay in touch with modern technology. They argue that their contracts don't cover third or fourth screens. 

• What rules and regulations did the government impose to restrict the networks' power?

Some rules and regulations were imposed to restrict the networks' power. The first was the Prime Time Access Rule. this reduced the networks control of prime-time programming from four hours to three hours. Then FCC created the financial interest and syndication rules (fin-syn) This was the most damaging attack against the Network TV monopoly in FCC history. A third policy action was constituted in 1975. the Justice department was limiting the networks' production of non-news shows, requiring them to seek most of their programming from independent production companies and film studios. Networks were limited to producing eight hours per week of in-house entertainment for non-news programs outside prime time.(page218) 

• How did the Telecommunications Act of 1996 change the economic shape and future of the television and cable industries?

The Telecommunications Act of 1996 brought cable fully under the federal rules that had long governed the telephone, radio, and TV industries. This act knocked down barriers, which allowed companies to enter each others markets. For example, this act allows cable companies to offer telephone services, and also allows phone companies to offer Internet services. This was done in hopes of competition and lower rates.

• Why has television's rols as a national cultural center changed over the years? What are the programmers doing to retain some of their influence?

The development of cable, VCRs and DVRs, the internet, and smartphone services has fragmented televisions audience by appealing to viewers individual and special needs. These changes and services alter televisions former role as a national unifying cultural force. Many cable channels survive mostly by recycling old television shows and movies. Television, despite the audience fragmentation, still provides a gathering place for friends and family at the same time that it provides access anywhere to a favorite show. (Page 232/233)

blog assignment 4

• How did the music industry attempt to curb illegal downloading and file sharing?

The music industry fought back against illegal downloading and file sharing with many lawsuits. The Supreme Court ruled that free music file-swapping was illegal and it went against music copyrights.

• How did rock and roll significantly influence two mass media industries?

Early rock and roll was considered the first "integrationist music," merging the black sounds of rhythm and blues, gospel, and Robert Johnson's screeching blues guitar with the white influences of country, folk, and pop vocals. Rock and roll was also the first musical form to simultaneously transform the structure of sound recording and radio. Many social, cultural, economic, and political factors contributed to the growth of rock and roll.(page129)

• Why does pop music continue to remain powerful today?

".. the biggest purveyor of pop is iTunes, which is also the biggest single seller of recorded music. The era of digital downloads has again made the single the dominant unit of music.. the dominance of singles has aided the reemergence of pop since songs with catchy hooks generate the most digital sales."(page142) Examples of pop music remaining powerful would be through the television shows such as American Idol, and Glee. Those shows keep all levels of pop music alive and powerful.

• What companies control the bulk worldwide music production and distribution?

Three major music corporations remain. These three corporations are: Universal Music Group, Sony music entertainment, and Warner Music Group. These groups control 90% of the recording industry market in the US.

• Do you think the Internet as a technology helps or hurts musical artists? Why do so many contemporary musicians differ in their opinions about the Internet?

I think that the internet as a technology both helps and hurts musical artists. I think that the internet as a technology helps the musical artists because it is a way to be noticed and to get known around the world. For example, people post videos on Facebook all the time. Those can be music videos. Also, a big promoter is YouTube. YouTube helps to discover many talented artists. I would say that the internet hurts contemporary musicians because many of these artists will lose money because people wont use iTunes and they will steal music. This is why many musicians would differ their opinions on the internet. 

• Why was the development of the telegraph important in media history?

The development of the telegraph was important in media history because is was the precursor of radio technology. It was invented in the 1840s. This telegraph sent electrical impulses from a transmitter through a cable to a reception point. This allowed for the transmission of news and messages. This is the key to what started the emergence of many other technological advances in the media. 

• How did broadcasting, unlike print media, come to be federally regulated?

Broadcasting came to be federally regulated because of the Radio Act of 1912 which addressed the problem of amateur radio operators increasingly cramming the airwaves. Radio waves were now considered to be collective property of all Americans, and you required a licence. 

• What are the current ownership rules governing American radio?

Because of the Telecommunications Act of 1996, most of the rules are eliminated on radio and television ownership rules. Now they can have many radio stations without restrictions. 

• Throughout the history of radio, why did the government encourage monopoly or oligopoly ownership of radio broadcasting?

The government encouraged a monopoly or oligopoly ownerships of radio broadcasting because they wanted to expand american technology throughout the world. Everyone would listen, and information would travel faster.