TELEVISION IN THE HOME
"Between 1949 and 1969, the number of households in the U.S. with at least one TV set rose from less than a million to 44 million. The number of commercial TV stations rose from 69 to 566. The amount advertisers paid these TV stations and the networks rose from $58 million to $1.5 billion.
Between 1959 and 1970, the percentage of households in the U.S. with at least one TV went from 88 percent to 96 percent. By 1970, there were around 700 UHF and VHF television stations; today there are 1,300. By 1970, TV stations and networks raked in $3.6 billion in ad revenues; today, that figure is over $60 billion." (Ganzel, 2007)
Between 1959 and 1970, the percentage of households in the U.S. with at least one TV went from 88 percent to 96 percent. By 1970, there were around 700 UHF and VHF television stations; today there are 1,300. By 1970, TV stations and networks raked in $3.6 billion in ad revenues; today, that figure is over $60 billion." (Ganzel, 2007)
Culturally, television became a huge deal in middle to high class households. It was almost a requirement to have at least one in your home. Company, family, friends would all gather around the set in the living room and bond over the programs. And this opened to doors to reach the general public through the TV sets.
"Our entire lives revolved around our TV set. We Ate, my father slept, and my mother worked around it. It was a part of the family in a way."
- cArol O'connor
"Television became the much sought-after medium of telecasting advertisements in the 1950s. Various companies started looking at the television as the best medium to advertise for better sale and popularity of their products. These companies began to sponsor popular shows and programs, as advertising on them brought them a wide publicity. Thus, the businessmen found a medium through which they can get a market for their products.
Thus, we can conclude that television in the 1950s brought an element of reality, news and fun for the people and also helped create a sense of awareness against all the social ills. The availability of movies and movie-related shows, reality shows, daily soaps and of course the news programs have made it the prime media of entertainment in every household." (Bhattacharyya, 2011)
Thus, we can conclude that television in the 1950s brought an element of reality, news and fun for the people and also helped create a sense of awareness against all the social ills. The availability of movies and movie-related shows, reality shows, daily soaps and of course the news programs have made it the prime media of entertainment in every household." (Bhattacharyya, 2011)
Header image credit to (left to right): (Sullivan Entertainment, 2012) (Library of Congress)
Body image credit to: (Hofstra University’s Department of Special Collections)
Body image credit to: (Hofstra University’s Department of Special Collections)