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Progressivism Vs. Radio Amateurs
Immigration creates a melting pot of all kinds of nationalities. Progressivism: wants to control radio to ensure it is used to educate Americans on politics, English, etc. They want to use radio to conform the public to the American identity. Radio must be controlled and regulated by big government.
Radio Amateurs: Want to use radio for their own personal needs (creativity) -
Radio Act of 1912
The Radio Act of 1912 created a licensing system that says who can and cannot broadcast. The government gives priority to military and big business which marginalized the individualized use of radio. -
Formation of RCA
The RCA or Radio Corporation of America allows for the government tot take further control over radio and uses it for primarily military purposes and communication that they deem important. The government supports this monopoly on radio because they want control and uses American businesses to keep that control. The major companies used are GE and Westinghouse who are both companies that manufacture radio sets. -
Radio Act of 1927
The Radio Act of 1927 created the Federal Radio Commission or the FCC which was a federal agency specifically in charge of regulating the use of radio. These regulations followed the PICAN standard that users must operate in if they are granted a license. The PICAN standard is an acronym for public interest, convenience, and necessity. -
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Golden Age of TV
Program producers charge sponsors to produce a program and networks sell airtime to ad agencies. This is a single sponsorship model which means that productions are centered around the advertisement. The audience is viewed as a consumer. -
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The Quiz Show Scandal
Sponsors are caught rigging several prime time quiz shows to increase ratings. "Numerous former contestants sued producers, the networks, and program sponsors, arguing that the scandals had defamed them and cost them money." This resulted in ratings plummeting and networks take control/shift how they produce programs.
Public Broadcasting Service. (n.d.). The aftermath of the quiz show scandal. PBS. https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/americanexperience/features/quizshow-aftermath-quiz-show-scandal/ -
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Golden Age of TV
Following the quiz show scandals, networks take control and change the power structure of how television is made. Advertisers how pay the networks who then pay independent producers to create programs that aren't centered around sponsored products but rather incorporate them into the program.