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What is Cable TV?/ History
Cable television is a video delivery service provided by a cable operator to subscribers via a coaxial cable or fiber optics. Programming delivered without a wire via satellite or other facilities is not "cable television" under the Commission's definitions. The Federal Communications Commission first established rules in 1965 for cable systems which received signals by microwave antennas. In 1966, the Commission established rules for all cable systems (whether or not served by microwave). (FCC,2021) In 1948, cable television erupted across the US. Cable TV began its journey in homes across Arkansas, Oregon, and Pennsylvania. (Tucker,2022)
Here is a video showing a brief overview of the history of cable to help better understand.
Media Convergence
Media Convergence - a phenomenon involving the interconnection of information and communications technologies, computer networks, and media content. It brings together the “three C’s”—computing, communication, and content—and is a direct consequence of the digitization of media content and the popularization of the Internet. (Flew) Streamable television content may be as socially relevant as ever, but it encourages binge-watching, which can contribute to health problems. The content itself might not harm your health, but binge-watching and general overconsumption leads to unhealthy sedentary lifestyles. (Osei-Hwere & Osei-Hwere) Mentioning Streaming services on television, connecting that with the issue with health problems which involves media convergence.
Here is a nice short podcast that helps explain Media Convergence
Cable Policies/ Cable Act
Cable Policies - In October 1984, the U.S. Congress amended the Communications Act of 1934 by adopting the Cable Communications Policy Act of 1984. The 1984 Cable Act established policies in the areas of ownership, channel usage, franchise provisions and renewals, subscriber rates, and privacy, obscenity and lockboxes, unauthorized reception of services, equal employment opportunity, and pole attachments. The new law also defined jurisdictional boundaries among federal, state, and local authorities for regulating cable television systems. (FCC,2021) “No one wants to pay junk fees for something they don’t want or can’t use,” FCC Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel said in a statement. “When companies charge customers early termination fees, it limits their freedom to choose the service they want.” (Rosenworcel, 2023) Relating to the Policy Act enforcing a rule and showing how consumers are having their freedom limited.
The history of the Cable Policy Act.
Audience Fragmentation
Audience Fragmentation - audiences for specific media content becoming smaller and increasingly homogeneous (Baran,2022,pg.38) With the implementation of cable, people have many options to choose from when watching TV shows etc. And with that, there are many fragmented groups for Cable TV, each channel has to attract certain viewers based on their likings. In addition to the targeting capabilities mentioned above, cable advertising also has a behavioral targeting capability. This allows businesses to build campaigns based on lifestyles or interests. With a long list of demographically targeted networks and programming (such as HGTV, Travel Channel, Food Network, etc.), delivering a message to your desired behavioral audience can be very efficient.(Grieshaber,2020) As I mentioned, a lot of channels reach a certain audience group as it is to their liking.
Here is a small representation of Audience Fragmentation.
About the Author
About the Author
My name is Ben Vail, I am currently majoring in computer science, and I am a senior graduating in May 2024, I enjoyed adding all this information on Cable TV, so others can see since I learned quite a bit about this topic. I found the Policy Act for cable to be very interesting as I only had a basic understanding of it, but after doing plenty of research on it, I found myself to be very invested in this act.
References: Sources
References: Sources
Reader | McGraw Hill. (n.d.). Prod.reader-Ui.prod.mheducation.com. Retrieved January 16, 2024, from https://prod.reader-ui.prod.mheducation.com/epub/9c6b482c81c968e92260dd6a543213c7/data-uuid-5465c20a330241759b270c495088035d#data-uuid-e12eff0a4f114f168bb45a2ec2155f9e
Media convergence. (2019, December 3). Open.spotify.com. https://open.spotify.com/episode/12dIoCMcbFDSKT14u35Gq0 ("Podcast")
Osei-Hwere, E., & Osei-Hwere, P. (n.d.). Television through Time. Oer.pressbooks.pub. https://oer.pressbooks.pub/mediacommunication/chapter/chapter-5-television-through-time/ ("Book")
Cox, C. (2023, November 21). Biden proposes ban on cable cord-cutting fees. CNBC. https://www.cnbc.com/2023/11/21/biden-proposes-ban-on-cable-cord-cutting-fees.html ("News Article")
Flew, T. (n.d.). Media convergence - Transmedia storytelling. Encyclopedia Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/topic/media-con2vergence/Transmedia-storytelling ("Internet-Based Source")
Cable Television. (2015, December 15). Federal Communications Commission. https://www.fcc.gov/media/engineering/cable-television
Tucker, B. (2022, September 14). History of Cable TV. SeatUp, LLC. https://seatup.com/blog/history-of-cable/#:~:text=In%201948%2C%20cable%20television%20erupted
Matthews, E. (2020, November 4). Cable Advertising – A Targeted Solution ⋆ Media Venue ⋆ (502) 855-4783. Media Venue. https://mediavenue.com/cable-advertising-a-targeted-solution/
References: Visuals
References: Visuals
Audience Fragmentation Image: Digital Content NewFronts Point to Audience Fragmentation Ahead - VideoNuze. (n.d.). Www.videonuze.com. Retrieved January 16, 2024, from https://www.videonuze.com/article/digital-content-newfronts-point-to-audience-fragmentation-ahead
What is Cable TV? Video: History of Cable. (n.d.). Www.youtube.com. Retrieved January 16, 2024, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iVkQRShVvYo&ab_channel=Mediacom
Cable Policy Act Video: Hendricks Exhibit: History Cable Act 1984. (n.d.). Www.youtube.com. Retrieved January 16, 2024, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gz30dANiSBY&t=2s&ab_channel=SyndeoInstituteatTheCableCenter
Heading Image: Bruell, A. (2017, April 3). Cable TV is Powering a Big Increase in News Consumption. Wall Street Journal. https://www.wsj.com/articles/cable-tv-is-powering-a-big-increase-in-news-consumption-1491192062
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