The history of free TV shows is actually the history of television itself in perspective. For the last 75 years or so, television had developed into something not foreseen by its supporters during its formative years before.
For one, the business of making people watch free TV shows had developed into a multi-billion dollar industry (more than fifty billion dollars as of last count) in the U.S. alone. And consciously or otherwise, television had become a touchstone of popular culture it had helped spawn through, news, education, entertainment and actual events, sports, politics and many other facets of modern life.
Beginnings
Since the first public demonstration in August 25, 1934 of the all-electronic TV system in Philadelphia by Philo Taylor Farnsworth, it took only a little over a decade or so (the 50s) for television to grasp the extent of its economics. Almost of their revenues would come from the advertisers.
By late 1950s, live TV was out and most of the series were filmed. One big advantage of filmed TV shows would be the possibility of a rerun or syndication for re-airing at some future time (which means more income). During this time also, westerns and detective dramas were in vogue and top-raters.
In the sixties, newscasts were lengthened from fifteen to thirty minutes. Although ratings for newscasts did not equal those of the other free TV shows (notably the entertainment sector), they earned enough viewers to attract advertisers and earn their keep.
It was as well at around this time when formats for the news were changed. There came other flashier features like show business news, sports, and spectacular news like fires and crimes – incorporated into the mainstream body of news reports.
By the 80s, cable stations like CNN, ESPN, MTV and many others entered into the mainstream TV industry. Commercial TV boomed. By the nineties, almost seventy percent of homes had cable. However, viewer preferences were outstandingly narrow. Nickelodeon shows and several sports programs led the ratings.
With the entry of cable, the networks changed their strategies in presenting the news, as we have noted. But the huge change would be in the free shows and other entertainment programs. These shows would re-invent themselves and become more daring and audacious.
The Fox Network, established in 1986 and owned by Australian Rupert Murdoch, was the most enthusiastic of all the networks in welcoming these new loose trends in programming. Some of their comedies, action and drama series, and some reality shows crossed the boundaries of good taste. This was also in time with the relaxation of federal regulations in broadcasting.
The other networks did their own innovations along with the current trends and tastes pervading among the viewers, especially those who patronize the free shows. The old standards are still making headlines and money (series on family dramas, police procedurals, hospitals).
However, the old action and adventure segments have branched out into areas that weren’t heard of before, or too fantastic to imagine. At the moment, reality shows and other hybrid shows (Dancing With The Stars, American Idol) lord it over the actual ratings.
The 21st century
Today, every country in the world has at least one television channel. This had enabled them to share their own culture with the rest of the globe’s population, and vice-versa. One example was the huge celebration in every continent in connection with the onset of the new millennium. It fulfilled an old goal of bringing the world together into one global village, in real time.
With the expected convergence of the computer and television in the near future, there may be more changes in the viewing habits of people as well as the changes in the sources of news and information and how they are to be disseminated.
For followers and viewers of free TV shows, what could be more exciting?
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