Television is one of the major mass media in the United States.As of 2017, household ownership of television sets in the country is 98%, with most having two or more sets. Cable television has become the biggest medium for advertising, as 76.29% of households have cable.
Broadcasting began as in our timeline, with the state owned PBS remaining as the network with the most national coverage, while private broadcasting networks dominate almost all of the television landscape in the United States.
The country's broadcast system is dominated by NTSC for analog and digital television. In 2015, all analog systems became digital, and broadcasters stopped using analog signals.
History[]
1960s[]
1970s[]
1980s[]
Most of the 1980s in television revolved around 3 networks: NBC, CBS, and ABC, with NBC being the ratings leader. Also important was the legalization of cable television in 1987, with MTV and CNN forming. By the end of the decade, 32% of American households had cable television.
1990s[]
2000s[]
2010s[]
In the early stages of the 2010s, television viewership had declined slightly, primarily due to the economy, but most ratings were still high. For the first time in nearly half a decade, television ratings went up. While no major channels shut down, television producers did see this as a threat with the "rise" of streaming services. However, streaming television, or streaming in general, never took off in the United States, as it did elsewhere.
By 2013, after the economy had recovered, television ratings jumped by a solid amount, reaching a record of 245.1 million viewers, and every year after that broke records. On May 31, 2015, all analog television stations switched to digital. The 2016 Super Bowl, with its halftime show featuring British rock group Oasis, became the most viewed television event in American history, gaining 275.9 million viewers.
Television Channels and Networks[]
In the United States, television is offered via subscription—cable or satellite. Over the air TV was common until the 1980s, and in 2006, over the top TV ended.
Elevated programming tiers commonly start with a basic package, usually consisting of 100 to 250 channels. Since the late 1990s, more packages have been offered, and some are offered as add-ons. A la carte subscription services in the United States are limited to pay television channels that a customer can subscribe to for an additional fee.
Broadcast television[]
The United States has a market-oriented television system, mostly concerned with broadcast television. The country has a national public television service (PBS). Local media markets have their own stations.
Cable Networks[]
In the 1980s, cable began to dominate the television industry as rules on television were relaxed. By 1990, cable networks had dominated the American television landscape. Over 1,000 cable networks are offered in the country, and most of them are controlled by 50 media companies. As of 2017, cable television was used by the majority of people on the mainland of the United States, while satellite television was used by the majority of people outside of the mainland.Most primetime programming airs from 8 PM to 12 AM.
Switch to digital television[]
By the beginning of the 21st century, the United States was beginning to adopt the NTSC digital standards. On June 25, 2008, the government announced that the American standard was adopted, along with Canada, Mexico, and Newfoundland at the same time. The goal behind the decision was to offer wide, high-quality television.
HDTV sales increased in the 2010s in the United States,when the first televisions of this type were offered in 2005. By March of 2015, digital television had reached 94.5% of the United States. The country ended all analog broadcasts on May 31, 2015.
Television Telecommunications[]
What kind of provider a community has depends on the geographic area. Until 1994, a majority of households had over-the-air television, and since 2002, over-the-top television services ended in most areas, although the Amish community still used it until March of 2006.
Since 1994, cable television has been the mainstay in the mainland United States, with 99.6% of mainland United States households having cable television. Honolulu, Hawaii also has cable. Outside the mainland, satellite television reigns supreme as television expands to more areas. Satellite television was made legal in 1991. Reportedly, only 130 communities, all of which are outside the mainland United States, don't have access to television.
Business[]
All broadcasting stations (if a broadcaster or cable network) generally follow a pattern of airing programming for 44 minutes per hour,and 16 minutes of advertising. By law, all ads need to be at least 30 seconds long.
Regulation[]
Television is regulated by the Federal Communications Commission, which grants licenses to all television broadcasters and cable networks.
Until 1987, the FCC prohibited cable networks, as the commission feared that foreign programming could sneak in quickly. In 1987, both of these were repealed, and the television market soon became free.