Can you imagine a world without television? No serials, no news channels or no cricket matches. Will it not be a boring world? In present times television has become an integral part of our regular lives. Your mother might get angry or disturbed while she is watching her favourite soap opera.
Experiments in television broadcasting were initiated during the 1920s in the United States and Europe. This invention used a mechanical scanning disc that did not scan a picture rapidly enough. In 1923, however, came the invention of the iconoscope, the electric television tube. The invention of the kinescope or picture tube, the electronic camera and TV home receivers arrived in rapid succession during the next few years and by the 1930s, the National Broadcasting Corporation (NBC) had set up a TV station in New York, and BBC a TV station in London, offering regular programmes. Germany and France too established television stations around the same time. Television broadcasts started in India under All India Radio (AIR) on 15th September 1959 as an experiment.
The contemporary media of communication, based on electronics have set in motion a continuing process of change which is having a deep impact on the mind set and attitudes of the present day society. The electronic media like television have ushered in revolutionary changes in the society as never before.
Digital television is finally here. After one false start, the government has designated June 12 as the next final deadline for turning off ‘over the air’ transmission of analog signals. While this change has caused a lot of upheaval among TV viewers, there are lots of good industry reasons for converting from analog to digital mode. Better management of the airwaves, more programming opportunities and possibly new revenue streams – in addition to the improved picture quality that all will enjoy.
Almost every major newspaper in India owns at least one television channel. The Bennett Coleman & Co.Ltd. /Times of India Group, the country’s largest chain of newspaper has Times Now, ET Now, Movies Now and a lifestyle channel Zoom. The publisher of India Today and a host of American/European magazines, such as Cosmopolitan, Vogue and Men’s Health, own a bouquet of news channels: Headlines Today, Aaj Tak and Delhi Aaj Tak. Political parties like The National Hindu Party, the BJP, the Marxists of Kerala, the DMK and the AIADMK of Tamilnadu, the Congress Party in Kerala and even the Catholic Church have followed suit, launching their own channels to propagate their own ideologies.
picture source: www.morguefile.com
Television news channels and news bulletins receive the biggest patronage where soft advertising is concerned. In 2006, the news bulletins obtained the highest patronage (56.2 million) or 18% share of total in-content advertising across all media genres, including feature films (16%), music shows (9%), soaps/drama (8%) and film songs (5%).
The digital television market is growing, with the number of liquid crystal display (LCD) based digital televisions growing at 22% CAGR. More recent forecasts show growth in 2010 of 6% over 2009’s 1% decline. The big question for digital television is, ‘what is the next breakout technology?’ According to Display Search, advanced technologies like LED back light, 3D, and higher rates will be driving explosive growth for LCD televisions over the next few years. Other factors coming into play are the on-going economic pressure to lower costs and the ‘green’ movement towards lower power.
Thus, in this age of internet, television has been constantly reinventing itself as a medium. One of the disadvantages of TV as a medium is delayed feedback. On the other hand, internet is all about interactivity. So to cope up with this and establish itself as a great medium, television has to search for new ways to become interactive.
About the Author-
Priya Panda is student of Journalism and Mass Communication at Muralidhar Girl's College, Kolkata, West Bengal, India.
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author, and they do not reflect in any way those of the Dispassionate Observer.
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author, and they do not reflect in any way those of the Dispassionate Observer.
