Although methods of television transmission were developed as early as 1884, television first began to gain popularity after World War II. The 1948 television freeze allowed time for the FCC to develop a plan for growth, and by 1960, 90% of American homes had a television.

The business of television is still dominated by the networks, but new technologies are beginning to erode their power. Cable, VCR, DVD, the remote control, and direct broadcast satellite have diminished networks’ authority and changed the relationship between medium and audience. New technologies, such as HDTV and the V-chip, and the convergence of television and the Internet, will bring about more changes.

News staging is an ethical issue being debated by media literate viewers. Staging can range from giving the false appearance that a reporter is on the scene to re-creating or simulating an event, all for the purpose of holding the audience’s attention.

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