NewYork-3K-DM

Television exists, but not as a cheap & universal commodity as we understand it. TV sets in New York are huge affairs, often 7 feet tall by 10 feet wide, on large pedestals and their own power source. Also, each TV can broadcast as well as receive.

They are expensive, so they usually are paid for by guilds, hotels, aristocrats, large taverns, universities, etc. There is no central broadcast tower, and there are not "300 channels broadcasting simultaneously 24/7" There is no monthly charge, as the sets pay for themselves by attracting customers.

Here's how it works: Let's say the Golden Griffon Inn in Yonkers has a set. And let's say they also have the Camera Crystals.

Now most of the time, the set will be on, sitting in a large side room, and tables and chairs will be in there, and patrons can enjoy the shows that other locations broadcast. the Innkeeper charges a little extra to defray the cost of the set. That is the usual routine. Once in a while, say every 90 days or so, the local bards and thespians will put on an operetta. The tables and chairs will clear out, and a set will be built, and musicians hired, then they practice & rehearse. Then at the appointed time, a live production will be put on with Golden Griffon as the broadcaster. This means that all the other TV sets in the Metro Region will be watching their little opera.

Schedules are worked out by bidding, and by popularity. The Transmitters Guild knows who makes the popular shows,

and the sweeter spots on the schedule go to them.

Now these are by and large medieval societies, Freedom of the Press and Freedom of Speech are largely at the whim of the governors and dukes ruling. So if someone abuses the network for propaganda or slanted news, the Guild acts quickly to disable their broadcast crystals.

Various groups produce various programs. Generic or international news is in the wee hours of the morning, Educational and classical music during the day. The extremely popular shows are music, gladiators, musicians, plays, "reality shows" x-crawl type dungeoneering, soap operas. Advertising is not allowed. Local politics, courtroom trials, national news, infomercials, religious sermons, and things like that are not permitted on the network, because the average viewer is sitting in a tavern somewhere and does not care about a prairie fire 3 nations over, even if it did kill 300 people; also there are not really products available all over the world. No Pepsi, so no Janet Jackson commercials..

Shows are in Common. Each morning at 5 am the rolling 7 day schedule is published. The Guild is HQed at Crown Heights and is quite neutral in its political, religious, and mercantile outlook. The guild knows the schedule 90 days ahead of time, but only publish 7.

Music can be bards, trios, orchestras, ensembles, choirs, pipers or whatever. They set up their stands and play at the appointed time. Plays are performed Shakepearian style. Live sex acts are discouraged, but having a tryst during act 3 not unknown. PG13 is the norm.

Gladiator combats are okay, but execution shows are not. "Reality shows" consists of camera crew following around dilletantes, bards, courtiers, courtesans, and other "complicated" people who then react unscriptedly to each other, and then hilarity or fisticuffs ensues. These type of shenanigans attract QUITE A LOT of eyeballs and the guild lets them have regular time slots and they tend to slide into prime time, which is just after the evening meal. It is estimated that over 90,000 people saw Duchess Tayler of the Broncks get slapped by that Tiefling perfume-girl, and it still gets talked about. X-Crawl shows are like "reality" shows, but survival experts and braggarts are recorded live going into known deathtraps and compete for prizes or just survival.

• Soap operas also operate like a reality show, but the drama is scripted, and the make-up is better. In house illusionists also help.
• Universities put on good music, serious plays, and demonstrations of fantastic things.
• King's courts other royal patrons put on jousts, tournaments, court dances, and other cultural entertainments.
• Circus and entertaining guilds include a stop somewhere on their circuit that can broadcast their show.

Owners of sets are required to make one broadcast per year, minimum.

Again, eyeballs drive the market, so no matter how wonderful the philosopher may be, his lecture will not be on until 4 in the morning.