Demonstrates that the reason for Zenith's Phonevision's failure was the interweaving of such individual factors as the actions of the regulatory system and the opposition of the broadcast and film industries, along with the internal activities of Zenith and prevailing market conditions. (MS)

Examines the relationship between well-educated, upper middle-class retirees and their retirement community in the development of discourse that influences television program choices and discussion of content. Finds interest in living in the present, a preference for quality television, and an insistence on "serious" leisure urge residents toward…

Evaluates the pattern of celebratory activities in United States homes that accompanied television viewing of the 1984 Summer Olympic Games. Finds that those watching the Olympics were more likely to be in a group, to have visitors, to plan their viewing, and to pay close attention to the television. (MS)

Examines influences on public recognition and recall of news. Finds that stories receiving heavier television news coverage are better recognized and recalled; respondents who are generally well-informed about public affairs succeed in learning most types of news; and news stories focused on personalities and domestic news items are better…

Demonstrates that television news is a relatively weak overall predictor of long-term information gain. Shows that newspapers remain America's premier source of public affairs information and more specialized cable programs such as the MacNeil/Lehrer News Hour and C-SPAN have come to rival newspapers and news magazines as suppliers of long-term…

Reveals that 46% of the time with television was spent in some activity instead of or in addition to looking at the TV. Notes that social interaction was the most common nonviewing activity for all viewers, followed by playing and eating for children and reading for adults. Considers how nonviewing behaviors occurred most often during programming…

Appraises the way in which the broadcasting industry is now promoting toys to children, focusing on structural changes in the broadcasting industry, new ways of financing and distributing programs, aggressive marketing by the toy industry, and the deregulatory climate at the Federal Communications Commission. (MS)

Provides a microeconomic analysis of United States (U.S.) television program export prices. Finds that U.S. producers, acting like a dominant firm, are responsible for establishing the general level of foreign program prices in each national market. (MS)

Investigates differences observed among German students regarding amount of television viewing. Finds a significant negative effect of need for cognition on viewing amount. Interprets this as a manifestation of individual-psychological escapism in which the lower viewers' need for cognition is, the less pleasant they feel when they have nothing to…

Examines how television viewing may shape social perceptions of Blacks. Focuses on the amount of viewing and beliefs about racial integration, hypothesizing that heavy television viewers would report higher estimations of the prevalence of racial integration than would light viewers. (MS)

Examines how people from diverse cultural backgrounds interpret and use communication technology. Finds that the skill suggested by the concept of "media literacy" may not be strictly a result of experience and familiarity with the medium, and that at least some media-specific codes are analogs of perceptual processes. (MS)