Radio to Television

David Sarnoff- Vision of Television

Experimental stations begin in the early 1930’s What was the first image

broadcast? Felix the Cat Engineers needed something to

stand in front of the camera for hours to test the transmission of the picture

Felix the Cat

Radio to Television World War II ends in June 1945 Economic boost occurs The concept of Television

broadcasting grows tremendously

Television Sets Early postwar sets very small 8” to 10” Cost $100-$300

Radio to Television

Early television stars include Ed Sullivan and Milton Berle

FCC Freeze The government puts a freeze on

applications for new television stations

Such a rush for stations to begin broadcasting that the government needs to allocate more channels

Supposed to last 6 months, lasts 4 years 1948-1952

Early Television

1953 – 80% of television shows done live

By 1960 33% were pre recorded with the invention of video tape

Three Television Networks CBS – Columbia Broadcasting System NBC – National Broadcasting

Company ABC- American Broadcasting

Company

Television in the 50’s Drama’s and

Comedy’s Popular Most popular

Show? I Love Lucy

1951-1957 Most watched one

time episode when little Ricky is born record held until 1983

Starred Lucille Ball as herself Titanic Marconi Room

Television and the Presidency 1951 President Truman allows

excerpts of news conferences to be broadcast

1953 President Eisenhower allows videotaping of news conferences

1960 First Televised Presidential Debate Taped at the WBBM Channel 2 studios in

Chicago Republican Vice President Richard

Nixon vs Democratic Senator John F. Kennedy

Style vs Substance

Television and the Presidency

Television viewers believed Kennedy won the debate

Radio listeners believed Nixon won the debate

Nixon appeared irritable while Kennedy appeared calm and collected

Kennedy’s slim win attributed to debate