A study investigated the influence of television program type and scheduling characteristics on patterns of program choice. The problem to be explored was the relative contribution of program content to patterns of audience flow. Soap operas were scheduled on competing channels with the assumption that audience duplication between pairs of these…

The concept of news perspective bias necessitates the creation of an empirical standard by which to judge that bias. A study defined and tested a real life referent applicable to planned, sustained news events that have identifiable and accessible participants. The study compared the television news coverage of court ordered busing to achieve…

The viewer's perception of television pictures is different from the perception of pictures generated by other visual media. The research findings on the subject reveal that there are four major areas under which the study of television picture perception can be grouped. The "light through" as opposed to the "light on" theory…

This exploratory endeavor utilized a functional discrepancy model of mass communication research to examine the audience experience with television generally and its news in particular. Specifically, gratifications sought from television in general and gratifications perceived as being obtained from television news are analyzed for a random sample…

Content analysis of 5,190 news stories appearing on network weekday evening newscasts between May 1982 and April 1984 reveals under- and overrepresentations of geographic/political subdivisions and of individuals representing various social groups within the United States and internationally. More specifically, on "geographic" biases,…

The 1984 campaign between Republican Jesse Helms and Democrat Jim Hunt of North Carolina was one of the most expensive campaigns in history. The Helms campaign spent an estimated $15.6 million and Hunt is believed to have raised $9.8 million. Both sides relied heavily on television advertising. A study was conducted to measure the link between…

This paper outlines the use of confirmatory factor analytic techniques to assess the reliability of television program checklists as indicators of television exposure, to estimate the stability of television exposure over time, and to detect patterns of television content preference. A causal model incorporating these three properties was…

The three television networks, acting under severe restrictions imposed by the Iranian government, all provided comprehensive coverage of the hostage crisis. A study was conducted to examine what, if any, salient differences arose or existed in this coverage from November 5, 1979, until January 15, 1980. A research procedure combining qualitative…

Arguing that the threat to privacy in the new technological era of information processing and transmitting via cable television is a real one, this paper proposes that the threat can be minimized through effective legislation. The paper first looks at cable television privacy concerns and examines several studies concerning privacy, then reviews…

An analytical model for the grammatical description of educational television is illustrated by an examination of what television does to a traditional plot in a dramatic narrative. Segments from dramatic narratives presented on educational channels were videotaped, and a program of observation and recording of elements for video programs was…

A study investigated the dimensions of gratifications sought (GS) and gratifications obtained (GO) from two competing network television programs--ABC's "Good Morning America" and NBC's "Today"--in terms of (1) the differences between the dimensional structure of GS and GO for the viewers of each separate program and (2) the…

A study tested the utility of the viewing intention application of the transfer discrepancy model--a model attempting not only to identify the key program attributes that alter beliefs, but also to identify those that transfer this belief change into changes in viewer behavior. To promote cross-population examination, the study focused on network…

Differences in formal aspects of television commercials aimed at boys and those aimed at girls were investigated. Formal attributes were defined as production techniques such as action, pace, visual effects, dialogue and narration, background music and sound effects. Two aspects of content were also examined: aggressive behavior and the gender of…

Research studies on the influence of the viewing environment on children's attention to television and the amount of television viewed are reviewed, as well as control of television viewing through environmental design and what is known about the kinds of environments depicted on television. How television can influence the development of our…

The 1976-79 schedules of the three major television networks were analyzed to determine what strategies were used to organize prime time schedules and what types of programs appeared during prime time viewing periods. Five essential programing strategies were identified: fraction of selection (cost versus reward), lowest common denominator (wide…