FAMST 101C Lecture Notes - Lecture 10: Steven Bochco, Pawnbroker, Fred Silverman
Document Summary
10:51 am: 1980s fiction tv, continued, the decline of tv"s classical network model. Up until the 1980s, the classical network structure worked well for abc, cbs, and. Networks suffering serious losses as viewers found other options for at home entertainment. Led to lawsuit between sony and disney. Disney didn"t want its films and tv programs being compromised by viewers having more control over their viewing choices by way of videotaping broadcast programming from their own tv sets. Profits from videotape rentals and purchases surpassed box office profits. Families taped broadcast tv shows and fast-forwarded past commercials. Cable and paid tv encroached on network profits. In 1980, 90% of the tv audience watched network tv, but by 1985, it decreased to ~60% Economic hardships for the networks, leading to larger companies buying the networks. Cable tv was committed to moving toward specific niche programming. Like mtv"s launch in 1981 to address a youth market.
