Interviews conducted with 31 older, retired adults in Dortmund, West Germany, concerning their use of cable television and its effect on their everyday lives are the focal point of this qualitative study. Also discussed is a quantitative study of a larger sample of German citizens over age 14 in the same geographic area before cable television was…

This paper addresses the question of whether video recorders and cable television, which are both primarily entertainment media, are in functional competition with one another. Some initial answers are provided based on the results of an extensive two-year research project conducted in the Federal Republic of Germany. This study found that: (1)…

Reviews research into children's use of television and discusses two studies, one from the United States and one from West Germany, that focus on media in families. A study currently being completed is also described that examines the effect of cable television on children's and adolescents' media use in Austria. (LRW)