Television

Television:

Even though the television was already invented back in the 19th century, it was not until the 1950’s that the television really began to find favour in American homes. More and more families started buying televisions, and the amount of hours spend in front of the screen started to increase. Television became a mass media during this decade. Back then, ‘sitcom’ shows such as The Honeymooners and I Love Lucy were very popular, and it was something that families watched together in the living room in the evenings. These shows usually portrayed the well-functioning and happy life of regular families, which the viewers strived to copy into their own lives.

The TV News also became popular at this time, but it took some time for the viewers to get used to getting their daily news from a different media than the papers. In 1948 the National Broadcasting Channel also known as NBC launched the first regular news program entitled Camel Newsreel Theatre. It was hosted by newsman John Cameron Swayze, who would just sit and read the news from a piece of paper. It was shown once a week and only lasted 10 minutes. Later in the 50’s the news broadcasting changed, and now the news would also include videotaped footage from events that happened anywhere in the world, and later in the decade also live broadcasting from the hot spot was included in the coverage.

The Television also meant great changes to the world of advertising. Earlier companies would advertise their products in magazines, radio or billboards, but now the television made it possible for the companies to showcase their products using moving images too.