essay of television

Essay on Television for Students and Children

500+ words essay on television.

Television is one of the most popular devices that are used for entertainment all over the world. It has become quite common nowadays and almost every household has one television set at their place. In the beginning, we see how it was referred to as the ‘idiot box.’ This was mostly so because back in those days, it was all about entertainment. It did not have that many informative channels as it does now.

Moreover, with this invention, the craze attracted many people to spend all their time watching TV. People started considering it harmful as it attracted the kids the most. In other words, kids spent most of their time watching television and not studying. However, as times passed, the channels of television changed. More and more channels were broadcasted with different specialties. Thus, it gave us knowledge too along with entertainment.

Benefits of Watching Television

The invention of television gave us various benefits. It was helpful in providing the common man with a cheap mode of entertainment. As they are very affordable, everyone can now own television and get access to entertainment.

In addition, it keeps us updated on the latest happenings of the world. It is now possible to get news from the other corner of the world. Similarly, television also offers educational programs that enhance our knowledge about science and wildlife and more.

Moreover, television also motivates individuals to develop skills. They also have various programs showing speeches of motivational speakers. This pushes people to do better. You can also say that television widens the exposure we get. It increases our knowledge about several sports, national events and more.

While television comes with a lot of benefits, it also has a negative side. Television is corrupting the mind of the youth and we will further discuss how.

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How Television is    Harming the Youth

Additionally, it also makes people addict. People get addicted to their TV’s and avoid social interaction. This impacts their social life as they spend their time in their rooms all alone. This addiction also makes them vulnerable and they take their programs too seriously.

The most dangerous of all is the fake information that circulates on news channels and more. Many media channels are now only promoting the propaganda of the governments and misinforming citizens. This makes causes a lot of division within the otherwise peaceful community of our country.

Thus, it is extremely important to keep the TV watching in check. Parents must limit the time of their children watching TV and encouraging them to indulge in outdoor games. As for the parents, we should not believe everything on the TV to be true. We must be the better judge of the situation and act wisely without any influence.

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Essay on Television for Students [100, 150, 200, 350 Words]

Essay on Television: Television is one of the most influential innovations of modern times. In this article, you are going to learn to write a paragraph or essay on Television (100, 150, 200 and 350 Words). You’ll learn what are the uses and abuses of television or what are the advantages and disadvantages of television. So, let’s get started.

Table of Contents

Short Essay on Television: 100 Words

Television is based on a highly sophisticated science of vision and sound. A man can see as far the horizon. He hears as far as the sound is audible to him. But television takes his vision to a place far beyond his horizon. He sees a thing or person long beyond his actual physical reach. It brings to him also sound from a very remote place.

In fact, television brings vision and sound together from a distance which is beyond the range of human sight and hearing. It is a powerful and very useful invention of modern science. It has conquered space for human eye-sight. It has brought about a great development in the science of communication. It can well be used for entertainment and knowledge.

Television Essay: 150 Words

One of the latest wonders of science is Television. It is an effective medium of communication and entertainment. We can watch live important political, sports and other events happening at distant places. This enables us to have a direct knowledge of the things, places and events far away. TV has thus brought the whole world into the drawing room.

Television is also a powerful medium of mass education. Educational programmes on healthcare and family planning, general knowledge can be sent to millions of viewers through audio-visual presentation in the TV. It also keeps off loneliness.

But TV has its bad effects too. Watching TV sometimes becomes an addiction, People remain glued to the TV and it makes them idle- particularly the students and young people. They neglect sports and games and their studies. Too much of viewing affects our vision. Programmes, if not properly selected, cast bad effects on young minds. Social visits become very rare and people become unsocial.

Also Read: Paragraph on Computer

Essay on the Television: 200 Words

No other thing is as familiar as Television in our present times. It was invented by John Baird in 1925. It first appeared in India in 1959. It is really a wonder of science today. It is a two-in-one. It is the radio on one side and the cinema on the other. Television is a very useful instrument in many ways. It is a powerful medium for education and recreation. It gives lessons on the subjects like science and mathematics and also on geography and history.

It shows us cinema and live telecast on games and sports. On its screen we have a delightful scenery of nature and thrilling sights of animals roaming in the jungles and in the deep waters of the seas. We can amuse the shows of serials. It is also a mighty medium of advertisement.

Sometimes it has bad effects on children. In most cases, they sit tight with it to witness their favorite items which captivate them greatly. Sometimes they neglect their bounden duties as students. They try to copy the most interesting show-style. In some cases they even face their death. Many things are very good with television but its price is very high and the poor cannot benefit by it.

Also Read: Newspaper Essay in English

Television Essay in English: 350 Words

Television is a modern invention. When television was first invented, people of the world were very happy because they had the scope to know the world around them and to entertain themselves in the best possible ways. Television is no doubt something which ushered progress of civilization. Some electronic media like BBC took over the most important role to make the people of the world aware of the society to which they were belonging and the environment by which they were being nourished. It is quite well known that, BBC produced all of the plays of Shakespeare as films. Even this world famous electronic media focused on the two World Wars so much so that people of the world came to know how horrible was war and warfare. Thus social consciousness was an important factor that was first aroused by the aid of television.

But this television is now being abused constantly by some commercially debased people. In West Bengal, television is so abused that the young generation is now misguided. The young people follow the bad culture and become oblivious of the hoary tradition of our country. Mere entertainment has been presented on the different television channels. Meaningless serials and reality shows are heart-throbbing without any moral impact. Crimes and social disorder are presented so crudely that the minds of the young people are overwhelmed with frustration, dilapidation, and despair. It seems that there is no escape from despair. The ultimate result is social alienation which brings about moral dilemma.

Yet, the concerned authority is really callous to the problems. Advertisement, sponsors, etc. are the sources of the economic structure of the different channels. Thus, the producers intend to draw the attention of the businessman by claiming the popularity of the channels. The inevitable result of this kind of commercial debasement is of Course disintegration that causes serious disbelief in the sphere of culture and education. Therefore, we must be conscious of the fact that television is not merely a media for entertainment; rather it is a source of important social and cultural messages.

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I really enjoyed reading your essay on television. It was very informative and I learned a lot. I especially liked the part about how television can be used to teach different subjects.

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Essay On Television: In 100 Words, 150 Words, 200 Words

• Updated on  
• Sep 22, 2023

Television, often referred to as the “idiot box” in its early days, has undergone a remarkable transformation since its invention . It has evolved into a powerful medium of entertainment, information dissemination , and education . This essay delves into the multifaceted role of television in our lives, exploring its history, impact, and the advantages and disadvantages it brings.

Table of Contents

• 1 Essay on Television in 100 words
• 2 Essay on Television in 150 words
• 3 Essay on Television in 200 words

Essay on Television in 100 words

Television, a ubiquitous electronic device, has become an integral part of modern life. Its journey from being merely a source of entertainment to a medium of knowledge and connectivity has been extraordinary. With the advent of technology, television has evolved into high-definition screens and smart TVs, offering a plethora of channels and content. It serves as a window to the world, providing news, educational programmes, and entertainment for people of all ages. While television enriches our lives, it also presents challenges, such as the risk of addiction and exposure to inappropriate content. Nevertheless, when used judiciously, television remains a powerful tool for learning and relaxation.

Must Read: The Beginner’s Guide to Writing an Essay

Essay on Television in 150 words

Television, originally known as the “idiot box,” has come a long way since its inception. Invented by John Logie Baird, it was initially designed solely for entertainment. Over the decades, technology has transformed it into a multifaceted medium. The word “television” itself reflects its essence, with “tele” meaning far-off and “vision” pertaining to seeing. It has become a device with a screen that receives signals, offering a wide array of channels and programmes.

Television is no longer confined to being a source of amusement; it’s a vital tool for education and information dissemination. News channels keep us informed about global events, and educational programmes expand our knowledge horizons. It’s also a source of inspiration, with motivational speakers and skill-building programmes motivating viewers.

However, television isn’t without its drawbacks. Inappropriate content, addiction, and the spread of misinformation are concerns. Yet, its advantages, including affordability and accessibility, outweigh the disadvantages when used responsibly.

Essay on Television in 200 words

Television, an electronic marvel, has evolved dramatically from its early days. Initially dubbed the “idiot box,” it was primarily a source of entertainment. However, with technological advancements, it has transformed into a versatile medium. The word “television” combines “tele,” meaning far-off, and “vision,” the act of seeing, reflecting its purpose as a device for receiving distant signals.

Television is now an indispensable part of modern life. It offers a multitude of channels and programs catering to diverse interests. News channels keep us updated on current events, while educational programs expand our knowledge in various fields. It’s also a source of motivation, with programs featuring inspirational speakers and skill development.

The affordability of televisions makes them accessible to a wide range of people. They provide a cost-effective means of entertainment and education, making them a valuable asset in many households.

Despite these advantages, television is not without its drawbacks. Inappropriate content can be easily accessed, posing risks to younger viewers. Excessive television watching can lead to addiction, resulting in reduced physical activity and social interactions. Furthermore, some programs spread misinformation, which can have lasting negative effects.

In conclusion, television, with its evolution and widespread use, offers a blend of entertainment, education, and information. Its benefits are immense, but users must exercise responsibility to maximize its potential while minimizing its drawbacks.

To improve your essay writing skills, practice regularly, read extensively, and pay attention to grammar and vocabulary. Additionally, seek feedback from peers or educators to identify areas for improvement.

A well-structured essay should have a clear introduction, a body with well-organized paragraphs, and a concise conclusion. Each paragraph should focus on a single idea, and there should be smooth transitions between them.

To make your essay more engaging, start with a captivating hook in the introduction, use descriptive language and examples, and maintain a clear and logical flow of ideas throughout the essay. Additionally, consider the reader’s perspective and aim to address their interests and questions.

We hope that this essay blog on Television helps. For more amazing daily reads related to essay writing , stay tuned with Leverage Edu .

Manasvi Kotwal

Manasvi's flair in writing abilities is derived from her past experience of working with bootstrap start-ups, Advertisement and PR agencies as well as freelancing. She's currently working as a Content Marketing Associate at Leverage Edu to be a part of its thriving ecosystem.

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Television Essay

Television is very useful. There are many advantages to the development of television. It was useful in giving the average person access to a low-cost kind of entertainment. Now that televisions are so inexpensive, everybody can buy one and have access to entertainment. Additionally, it keeps us informed on the most recent world events. Here are a few sample essays on ‘television’.

100 Words Essay on Television

Television is one of the most recent scientific wonders which connects people to the world. Television works well as a communication and entertainment medium. We may watch live broadcasts of significant sporting events, political news and other events taking place throughout the world. This gives us a direct understanding of things, places, and events that are far away. Thus, television has brought the entire globe into the living room. Through watching television we also become knowledgeable.

Television is also another effective tool for widespread teaching. Millions of people can receive educational programmes on health care, family planning, and general knowledge via audio-visual presentation on TV.

200 Words Essay on Television

Television connects the world. In the modern world, nothing is more familiar than television. In 1925, John Baird invented it. It was introduced in India in 1959. It is truly a wonder to behold in science. Television has two functions. On one side is the radio, and on the other is a movie theatre. Radio was listened to in the past but nowadays people go to movie theatres to see movies on the big screen. In many ways, television is a very beneficial tool. It is an effective tool for both instruction and entertainment. Through television people can study and gain knowledge.

Television shows us cinema and live telecast on games and sports. On its screen we have delightful scenery of nature and thrilling sights of animals roaming in the jungles and in the deep waters of the seas. We can enjoy many shows and serials and movies. It is also a mighty medium of advertisement.

People should watch television a minimum of half an hour a day. Sometimes television has a bad effect on children because they sit the whole day in front of television and see their favourite show which is very bad for them. Television is good for professional people and bad for unprofessional people.

500 Words Essay on Television

Television is the best thing to have in house. One of the most widely used technologies for entertainment in the world today is the television. Nowadays, practically every home has a television, and it has become fairly widespread. In the beginning people didn't want to use it but now everyone wants it in their house. This was primarily due to the focus on entertainment during that time. There weren't as many educational channels as there are now. Nowadays what you see on television is because of technology.

After the invention of television, the craze attracted many people to spend all their time watching TV. Parents started considering it harmful as it attracted the kids the most. Because kids spend most of their time watching television and not studying. However, as times passed, the channels of television changed. More and more channels were broadcasted with different specialties. Thus, it gave us knowledge along with entertainment.

Benefits of Watching Television

There are many advantages to the development of television. Television gives the average person access to a low-cost kind of entertainment and knowledge about the world. Now that televisions are not so expensive, everybody can buy one and have access to entertainment.

Television keeps us informed on the most recent world events. News from various parts of the world can now be obtained from television. Similarly, television also provides instructional shows that advance our understanding of science, animals, and other topics.

People are inspired to learn new skills by television as well. Additionally, television has a number of shows that feature presentations from motivational speakers. This show encourages people to improve their skill and lifestyle. You may also argue that television increases our exposure. Television broadens our understanding of many sports, world events, and other topics.

While television comes with a lot of benefits, television also has a negative side.

Disadvantage of Watching Television

We see that television broadcasts unsuitable material that encourages various social evil acts, like violence, eve-teasing, and more. Additionally, watching television for long periods is bad for our health. Our eyesight will deteriorate if we watch television for long periods of time. Our neck and back will also be painful as a result of our bad posture while watching TV.

Television also turns people into addicts. People avoid social connection because of their TV addiction. As a result, kids spend more time alone in their rooms, which has an impact on their social life. They become vulnerable due to their addiction and take their programmes way too seriously.

My Life Experience

When I was kid I used to watch television very much which affected my studies and physical health. After that my mother gave me some valuable tips about health and told me the disadvantages of television. I reduced the hours I spent watching TV and went to play games on the ground. After some time I noticed my health getting better and my mind becoming clearer. Television is good when people watch in their limits. But when people exceed their number of hours, then it will affect their mental health and body health. Television is beneficial because it gives knowledge about all the world and shows low cost entertainment.

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• Television Essay

The Television

The television is a popular entertainment device. It is very common and is found in almost all households. When the television first started broadcasting, it was known as the "Idiot Box” because at that time, the only purpose of television was to provide entertainment. Now, with the advancement of technology and creativity, television has emerged as an important mass media. There are many learning and informative channels on the TV today which act as the source of knowledge as well as entertainment.

The word "Television" comprises two words: "tele" and "vision". Tele is a prefix of Greek origin, which means far-off, which is used in creating names of instruments for operating over long distances, whereas vision means the act or faculty of seeing. “Television” can be termed as a device with a screen for receiving signals. 

The Perspectives of Television

The television was first invented by a Scottish scientist, John Logie Baird. Originally, it was capable of displaying monochromatic motion images (or videos). With advances in technology now, we have coloured TVs and even smart TVs. Children and adults depend on television for their entertainment. People spend a lot of their leisure time watching television. This may lead one to wonder whether it is really a good practice to spend so much time on the television. There are certain advantages and disadvantages of television beyond doubt.

The Advantages of Watching Television

An Inexpensive Source of Entertainment: Television is now a very cheap mode of entertainment. Televisions are not very costly, and apart from a very minimal service fee, one needs nothing more to be entertained. Televisions are a great entertainment option for people who live alone or cannot go out often. Televisions are cheap enough to be affordable for all.

Provides Knowledge: Television has a number of services, like news channels and so on. These channels and services help us stay up-to-date with the latest news all around the world. Television also offers educational programs, which help us expand the horizon of our knowledge. We get to learn about science, wildlife, history, and so on.

Gives Motivation: There are programs on television which motivate people to develop certain skills. There are programs of motivational speakers which inspire the viewers to push themselves to excel in their line of work.

The Disadvantages of Television

Like every other device, television too has some demerits alongside its advantages. 

Inappropriate Content: Television has barely any measures to prevent segregation of mature and adult audiences from younger audiences. Thus, when a piece of content is aired, it can be viewed by all. As a result, the younger section of the audience is exposed to inappropriate content.

Addiction: Studies have shown that watching a lot of television can get addictive. Television addiction helps lower social activities and promotes inactivity. This makes children more susceptible to mental as well as physical illnesses.

Fake Information: A lot of television content is aimed to spread misinformation for views and ratings. This kind of misinformation can hinder social and communal harmony. The misinformation can also leave a lasting impression on the audience who are of a vulnerable age.

Short Essay on Television in English (200 words)

Television is a great medium of entertainment for people from every age group. It provides enjoyment for the whole family. There are many channels, including news channels, sports channels, and channels of films, cartoons, or songs. Television also contains many programs and shows for kids. Television is a device that entertains the public and informs us about the country and the world.

Television is an amazing invention of science. Watching television makes us fresh, and we forget our worries and fatigue with its magic. Nowadays, the satellite technology and the cable network are far more powerful than ever. A variety of content is available on television and we can watch a channel of our choice. Television also has a great educational value as there are so many channels reserved for educational purposes. Many companies in the world prepare graded programmes.

However, television has a dark side too. Watching too much television can be harmful. Generally, kids are very fond of watching television, but continuously watching television can affect their eyes. Furthermore, it has an adverse effect on their studies. Students will not get enough time to study well if they stay busy watching television, and it makes them less imaginative. In spite of its dark side, television has become a vital means of transmitting both education and entertainment. 

10 lines on a Television Essay in English

Television is an effective medium for communication. 

Television is a vast medium of entertainment, information, and education of the modern age.

Television was invented in 1925 by John Logie Baird.

Television enables children to learn moral lessons in a fun way with special channels and programs meant for children.

The television shows, live matches, movies, music, cartoons, etc. are sources of our entertainment.

Television is considered an amazing invention of science.

We can enjoy a cinema, a football or cricket match, news, serials, and many other programs.

It is called Doordarshan in Hindi because it gives the vision of distant objects.

Television is also used to teach children in school

We can watch and hear the news of the world through television.

Whether television is good or bad for the viewers can be a long debate. However, one must always bear in mind that a device is not good or bad, it is merely a device. How one uses that device is what determines its effect. If we judicially use the television and control our television viewing time, we can get the benefits while avoiding the shortcomings.

FAQs on Television Essay

1. What is the importance of television?

Television has helped immensely in broadcasting a lot of information since its inception. Television is a great medium for people, which is used as a means of delivering entertainment, advertising products, and services, right in the comfort of the home. Television is also helpful in delivering news swiftly across the people and many programs are designed to serve as education and a source of knowledge, which is designed for all the age groups. Recently, most households have a television set and many of them have more than one television.

2. What is the history of television?

Television comprises both hearing and watching. Things can be seen from a great distance by means of the television. Television enables us to watch the live images of a person dancing, singing, or talking at a great distance. The television was invented by a scientist named Baird in 1925. Since its invention, television has gone through a lot of development and improvements. Initially, the sound and picture were not clear, and even images were mono-colored. But today, televisions have crystal clear sounds and images in actual color.

Television Essay for Students and Children in 1000+ Words

In this Television Essay for Students and Children you will read its definition, origin, history, importance, advantages, disadvantages, 10 lines. We have published this essay on tv in 1000+ words.

So, lets start this essay on television…

Table of Contents

Introduction (Television Essay)

Television is the most powerful medium for the promotion of entertainment and knowledge of science . It is one of the unique, superlative and brilliant discoveries of science.

Television eradicates the tiredness of this runaway life of man, gives him mental peace, and freshens the person again, replenishing the energy to work again.

Origin and History of Television

Televisions comprise two words – Tele and Vision . Which means distant worlds or all the beautiful and bizarre pictures before the eyes?

That is why it is called Doordarshan in Hindi. Television is considered as an advanced form of the technology other than radio. A person in radio can keep himself up to date from all the news of the country and the world and can entertain him by listening to various jokes and songs broadcast in radio.

In the same way, through television, a person can increase his knowledge by watching and listening to TV along with entertainment.

Let me tell you that in the year 1925, John L. from Britain Baird used this brilliant discovery on television for the first time.

After this, in 1926, he discovered TV, while Doordarshan was broadcast for the first time in India in 1959. Initially, it was very expensive, but now it has reached every home, and now at affordable rates too.

We can purchase television as per your need. This is the reason that now the roots of television are spread all over the world and now it has become a necessity for every household.

Importance of Television

Television has a different importance for everyone. The programs aired on the cartoon channel by children are very much liked, now that the characters of these programs have replaced the cartoon characters of the comics book.

Then it is a better medium for students to learn, because now Many such educational programs are broadcast on television, by which students can increase their knowledge by learning, and it also helps them to easily understand many tough topics through television.

Television has a different significance for the youth, most of the youth enjoy the movies, TV shows etc. that are broadcast on TV, along with it, remove their mental tension by watching it.

While television has a different significance for the elders, they entertain their minds by watching television in their spare time, and move towards spirituality through religious programs aired on it.

Also read: Pros and Cons of watching television

Advantages of Television in points

The benefits and use of television are as follows-

1. Good for news & information

Television broadcasts many such news channels, which keep us updated with all the news happening in the country and the world.

Which includes news related to a particular person, small institutions, sports world, weather, criminal events, development of India and abroad, all other news including economy?

2. The most powerful medium of entertainment

Television is the best, cheapest and best means of entertainment, through television, people of all age groups can entertain themselves by watching programs according to their interest and needs.

3. Better means to increase human knowledge

Nowadays many enlightening programs are broadcast in TV channels, along with English-speaking classes are also given to children, topic wise courses of competitive exam etc. are shown, which will help children to understand many topics and they Can increase your information.

4. Helps to relieve mental stress

When a man comes home after a day’s run, watching television, forgets all his troubles and troubles for a few moments and causes him to feel fresh, and helps him to overcome his mental stress. Television is also a wonderful friend of man’s free time.

5. Can watch with family

Many sports channels are telecasted on television so that one can enjoy watching the live broadcast of sports like cricket matches , football matches , badminton etc. in the country and the world.

Apart from this, many cartoon TV channels are also broadcast for children, along with it has also emerged as a suitable medium to take the elderly to the spiritual world.

In fact, companies broadcast TV channels associated with many religions and faith , in which many religious programs are telecast. Apart from this, many programs related to agriculture are also broadcasted, so that farmers get information about the weather and how to grow good crops.

Television also has many other benefits, which humans can avail according to their needs.

Disadvantages of Television in points

Every coin has two sides, in the same way that television has, we discuss its effects below-

1. Effect on eyes

Watching TV more than necessary has an adverse effect on the eyes, which also increases the risk of human eyesight being reduced, so one should not watch TV closely.

2. TV makes diseases

People who always stick to television and sit on the same posture and watch TV, then such people are at increased risk of heart disease and hypertension.

Many people do not remember their mealtime while watching TV, because of which their food and drink becomes irregular, and they fall prey to many diseases.

Along with this, the habit of eating food while watching TV causes a person to become obese because people eat more while watching TV.

3. Wastage of time

Watching TV in free time is right, but some people cannot do their important work because of watching their favourite TV program or movie. So many students stick to the TV during the exam which is a waste of time.

4. Some TV programs have adverse effects on children

Channels broadcasts many such films and television programs on television, which has a terrible effect on the brain of children and promotes criminal activities. Along with this, they show some such advertisements which are not suitable for children at all.

10 Lines about Television

• Television is one of the most popular devices used for entertainment worldwide.
• If you spend hours in front of the television, your eyesight will become weak. your
• Television was invented in 1926 by John L. Baird, a Scottish scientist.
• But later, colour television started being replaced by black-white television.
• Television is one of the greatest inventions of mankind.
• The world’s first electronic television was invented in 1927 by a 21-year-old inventor – Philo Taylor Farnsworth.
• Television offers various other non-formal education programs that increase your overall knowledge on issues other than the subject.
• Television is a boon for humanity.
• Uncontrolled display of violent and corrupt programs makes the youth a victim of egoistic, violent and corrupt conduct.
• These days, under the influence of television, many youths are committing bullying, smoking, alcohol consumption, other corrupt practices .

Through television, we can easily get information of every field, along with programs related to the culture and tradition of any country. They can make people aware and also help in guiding people right through it.

It is found that the development of television as a big industry has also encouraged the economy of the country and new employment options have been created, it has many benefits, but it should be viewed according to its needs, otherwise it leads to bad health effect.

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9.2 The Relationship Between Television and Culture

Learning objectives.

• Identify ways in which American culture is reflected on television.
• Identify ways in which television affects the development of American culture.

Since its inception as an integral part of American life in the 1950s, television has both reflected and nurtured cultural mores and values. From the escapist dramas of the 1960s, which consciously avoided controversial issues and glossed over life’s harsher realities in favor of an idealized portrayal, to the copious reality TV shows in recent years, on which participants discuss even the most personal and taboo issues, television has held up a mirror to society. But the relationship between social attitudes and television is reciprocal; broadcasters have often demonstrated their power to influence viewers, either consciously through slanted political commentary, or subtly, by portraying controversial relationships (such as single parenthood, same-sex marriages, or interracial couplings) as socially acceptable. The symbiotic nature of television and culture is exemplified in every broadcast, from family sitcoms to serious news reports.

Cultural Influences on Television

In the 1950s, most television entertainment programs ignored current events and political issues. Instead, the three major networks (ABC, NBC, and CBS) developed prime-time shows that would appeal to a general family audience. Chief among these types of shows was the domestic comedy —a generic family comedy that was identified by its character-based humor and usually set within the home. Seminal examples included popular 1950s shows such as Leave It to Beaver, The Donna Reed Show , and The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet . Presenting a standardized version of the White middle-class suburban family, domestic comedies portrayed the conservative values of an idealized American life. Studiously avoiding prevalent social issues such as racial discrimination and civil rights, the shows focused on mostly White middle-class families with traditional nuclear roles (mother in the home, father in the office) and implied that most domestic problems could be solved within a 30-minute time slot, always ending with a strong moral lesson.

Although these shows depicted an idealized version of American family life, many families in the 1950s were traditional nuclear families. Following the widespread poverty, political uncertainty, and physical separation of the war years, many Americans wanted to settle down, have children, and enjoy the peace and security that family life appeared to offer. During the booming postwar era, a period of optimism and prosperity, the traditional nuclear family flourished. However, the families and lifestyles presented in domestic comedies did not encompass the overall American experience by any stretch of the imagination. As historian Stephanie Coontz points out, “the June Cleaver or Donna Stone homemaker role was not available to the more than 40 percent of black women with small children who worked outside the home (Coontz, 1992).” Although nearly 60 percent of the U.S. population was labeled middle class by the mid-1950s, 25 percent of all families and more than 50 percent of two-parent Black families were poor. Migrant workers suffered horrific deprivations, and racial tensions were rife. None of this was reflected in the world of domestic comedies, where even the Hispanic gardener in Father Knows Best was named Frank Smith (Coontz, 1992).

Most domestic comedies in the 1950s portrayed an idealized version of family life and ignored social and political events.

Dennis S. Hurd – The Cleavers – CC BY-NC-ND 2.0.

Not all programs in the 1950s were afraid to tackle controversial social or political issues. In March 1954, journalist Edward R. Murrow broadcast an unflattering portrait of U.S. Senator Joseph McCarthy on his show See It Now . McCarthy, a member of the Senate Investigation Committee, had launched inquiries regarding potential Communist infiltration in U.S. institutions. Murrow thought that McCarthy’s aggressive tactics were a potential threat to civil liberties. His portrait cast the senator from Wisconsin in an unflattering light by pointing out contradictions in his speeches. This led to such an uproar that McCarthy was formally reprimanded by the U.S. Senate (Friedman, 2008).

Entertainment programs also tackled controversial issues. The long-running television western Gunsmoke , which aired on CBS from 1955 to 1975, flourished in a Cold War society, where U.S. Marshal Matt Dillon (James Arness) stood up to lawlessness in defense of civilization. The characters and community in Gunsmoke faced relevant social issues, including the treatment of minority groups, the meaning of family, the legitimacy of violence, and the strength of religious belief. During the 1960s, the show adapted to the desires of its viewing audience, becoming increasingly aware of and sympathetic to ethnic minorities, in tune with the national mood during the civil rights era. This adaptability helped the show to become the longest-running western in TV history.

Violence and Escapism in the 1960s

During the 1960s, television news broadcasts brought the realities of real-world events into people’s living rooms in vivid detail. The CBS Evening News with Walter Cronkite , which debuted in 1962, quickly became the country’s most popular newscast, and by the end of the decade, journalist Walter Cronkite was known as the most trusted man in America. Following John F. Kennedy’s election to the presidency at the beginning of the decade, the 1960s took an ominous turn. Shocked viewers tuned into Cronkite’s broadcast on November 22, 1963, to learn about the assassination of their president. During the next few days, viewers followed every aspect of the tragedy on television, from the tremor in Cronkite’s voice as he removed his glasses and announced the news of Kennedy’s death, to the frantic scenes from Dallas police headquarters where the assassin, Lee Harvey Oswald, was gunned down by nightclub owner Jack Ruby, to the thousands of mourners lining up next to the president’s flag-draped coffin.

Television began to play a major role in U.S. politics during the presidency of John. F. Kennedy.

Wikimedia Commons – public domain.

Around the same time as Kennedy’s assassination, horrific images from Vietnam were streaming into people’s living rooms during the nation’s first televised war. With five camera crews on duty in the Saigon bureau, news crews captured vivid details of the war in progress. Although graphic images were rarely shown on network TV, several instances of violence reached the screen, including a CBS report in 1965 that showed Marines lighting the thatched roofs of the village of Cam Ne with Zippo lighters and an NBC news report in 1968 that aired a shot of South Vietnamese General Nguyen Ngoc Loan executing a captive on a Saigon street. Further images, of children being burned and scarred by napalm and prisoners being tortured, fueled the antiwar sentiments of many Americans. In addition to the devastation caused by the president’s death and the Vietnam War, Americans were also feeling the pressure of the Cold War—the clash between the United States and the Soviet Union in the years following World War II. This pressure was especially great during periods of tension throughout the 1950s and 1960s, such as the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis, a confrontation that caused many people to fear nuclear war.

As a result of the intense stress faced by many Americans during the 1960s, broadcasters and viewers turned to escapist programs such as I Dream of Jeannie , a fantasy show about a 2,000-year-old genie who marries an astronaut, and Bewitched , a supernatural-themed show about a witch who tries to live as a suburban housewife. Both shows typified the situation comedy , or sitcom, a comedy genre featuring a recurring cast of characters who resolve zany situations based on their everyday lives. Other popular sitcoms in the 1960s included The Beverly Hillbillies , a show about a poor backwoods family who move to Beverly Hills, California, after finding oil on their land, and Gilligan’s Island , the ultimate escapist comedy about seven characters shipwrecked on an uncharted island. None of the 1960s sitcoms mentioned any of the political unease that was taking place in the outside world, providing audiences with a welcome diversion from real life. Other than an occasional documentary, TV programming in the 1960s consisted of a sharp dichotomy between prime-time escapist comedy and hard news.

Figure 9.10

Escapist sitcoms like I Dream of Jeannie provided Americans with a much-needed diversion from the stressful events of the 1960s.

Diversity and Politics in the 1970s

During the 1970s, broadcasters began to diversify families on their shows to reflect changing social attitudes toward formerly controversial issues such as single parenthood and divorce. Feminist groups including the National Organization for Women (NOW), the National Women’s Political Caucus, and the Coalition of Labor Union Women pushed for equality on issues such as pay and encouraged women to enter the workforce. In 1972, the U.S. Supreme Court sanctioned women’s right to abortion, giving them control over their reproductive rights. Divorce rates skyrocketed during the 1970s, as states adopted no-fault divorce laws, and the change in family dynamics was reflected on television. Between 1972 and 1978, CBS aired the socially controversial sitcom Maude . Featuring a middle-aged feminist living with her fourth husband and divorced daughter, the show exploded the dominant values of the White middle-class domestic sitcom and its traditional gender roles. Throughout its 7-year run, Maude tackled social and political issues such as abortion, menopause, birth control, alcoholism, and depression. During its first four seasons, the show was in the top 10 in Nielsen ratings, illustrating the changing tastes of the viewing audience, who had come of age during the era of civil rights and Vietnam protests and developed a taste for socially conscious television. Other 1970s sitcoms took the same approach, including Maude ’s CBS predecessor, All in the Family , which covered issues ranging from racism and homophobia to rape and miscarriage, and The Mary Tyler Moore Show , which reflected changing attitudes toward women’s rights by featuring television’s first never-married independent career woman as the central character. Even wholesome family favorite The Brady Bunch , which ran from 1969 to 1974, featured a non-nuclear family, reflecting the rising rates of blended families in American society.

Figure 9.11

The popularity of controversial shows like Maude reflected the changing cultural and social values of the 1970s.

In addition to changing family dynamics on sitcoms and other prime-time shows, variety and comedy sketch shows developed a political awareness in the 1970s that reflected audiences’ growing appetite for social and political commentary. Sketch comedy show Saturday Night Live ( SNL ) premiered on NBC in 1975 and has remained on air ever since. Featuring a different celebrity guest host every week and relatively unknown comedy regulars, the show parodies contemporary popular culture and politics, lambasting presidential candidates and pop stars alike. Earlier NBC sketch comedy show Laugh-In , which ran from 1968 to 1973, also featured politically charged material, though it lacked the satirical bite of later series such as SNL . By the end of the decade, television broadcasting reflected a far more politically conscious and socially aware viewing audience.

The Influence of Cable Television in the 1980s

Until the mid-1980s, the top three networks (ABC, NBC, and CBS) dominated television broadcasting in the United States. However, as cable services gained popularity following the deregulation of the industry in 1984, viewers found themselves with a multitude of options. Services such as Cable News Network (CNN), Entertainment and Sports Programming Network (ESPN), and Music Television (MTV) profoundly altered the television landscape in the world of news, sports, and music. New markets opened up for these innovative program types, as well as for older genres such as the sitcom. During the 1980s, a revival of family sitcoms took place with two enormous hits: The Cosby Show and Family Ties . Both featured a new take on modern family life, with the mothers working outside of the home and the fathers pitching in with housework and parental duties. Despite their success on network television, sitcoms faced stiff competition from cable’s variety of choices. Between 1983 and 1994, weekly broadcast audience shares (a measure of the number of televisions in use that are tuned to a particular show) for network television dropped from 69 to 52, while cable networks’ shares rose from 9 to 26 (Newcomb, 2004).

With a growing number of households subscribing to cable TV, concern began to grow about the levels of violence to which children were becoming exposed. In addition to regularly broadcast network programs, cable offered viewers the chance to watch films and adult-themed shows during all hours, many of which had far more violent content than normal network programming. One study found that by the time an average child leaves elementary school, he or she has witnessed 8,000 murders and more than 100,000 other acts of violence on television (Blakey, 2002). Although no conclusive links have been drawn between witnessing violence on television and carrying out violence in real life, the loosening boundaries regarding sexual and violent content on television is a persistent cause for concern for many parents. For more information on the social effects of violence in the media, please refer to Chapter 2 “Media Effects” .

Specialization in the 1990s and 2000s

Although TV viewership is growing, the vast number of cable channels and other, newer content delivery platforms means that audiences are thinly stretched. In recent years, broadcasters have been narrowing the focus of their programming to meet the needs and interests of an increasingly fragmented audience. Entire cable channels devoted to cooking, music, news, African American interests (see sidebar below), weather, and courtroom drama enable viewers to choose exactly what type of show they want to watch, and many news channels are further specialized according to viewers’ political opinions. This trend toward specialization reflects a more general shift within society, as companies cater increasingly to smaller, more targeted consumer bases. Business magazine editor Chris Anderson explains, “We’re leaving the watercooler era, when most of us listened, watched and read from the same relatively small pool of mostly hit content. And we’re entering the microculture era, when we are all into different things (Gunther, 2006).” Just as cable broadcasters are catering to niche markets, Internet-based companies such as Amazon.com and Netflix are taking advantage of this concept by selling large numbers of books, DVDs, and music albums with narrow appeal. Section 9.3 “Issues and Trends in the Television Industry” and Section 9.4 “Influence of New Technologies” of this chapter will cover the recent trends and issues of this era in television.

Black Entertainment Television (BET)

Launched in 1980, Black Entertainment Television (BET) was the first television network in the United States dedicated to the interests of African American viewers. The basic-cable franchise was created in Washington, DC, by media entrepreneur Robert Johnson, who initially invested $15,000 in the venture. Within a decade, he had turned the company into a multimillion-dollar enterprise, and in 1991 it became the first Black-controlled company on the New York Stock Exchange. The company was sold to Viacom in 2003 for $3 billion.

Pre-dating MTV by a year, BET initially focused on Black-oriented music videos but soon diversified into original urban-oriented programs and public affairs shows. Although BET compensated somewhat for the underrepresentation of Blacks on television (African Americans made up 8 percent of the prime-time characters on television in 1980 but made up 12 percent of the population), viewers complained about the portrayal of stereotypical images and inappropriate violent or sexual behavior in many of the rap videos shown by the network. In a 2004 interview with BET vice president of communications Michael Lewellen, former BET talk show host Bev Smith said, “We had videos on BET in those days that were graphic but didn’t proliferate as they seem to be doing now. That’s all you do seem to see are scantily dressed women who a lot of African American women are upset about in those videos (Fox News, 2004).” Despite the criticisms, BET remained the No. 1 cable network among Blacks 18 to 34 in 2010 and retained an average audience of 524,000 total viewers during the first quarter of the year (Forbes, 2010).

Television’s Influence on Culture

Despite entering a microculture era with a variety of niche markets, television remains the most important unifying cultural presence in the United States. During times of national crises, television news broadcasts have galvanized the country by providing real-time coverage of major events. When terrorists crashed planes into the World Trade Center towers in 2001, 24-hour TV news crews provided stunned viewers around the world with continuous updates about the attack and its aftermath. Meanwhile, network blockbusters such as Lost and 24 have united viewers in shared anticipation, launching numerous blogs, fan sites, and speculative workplace discussions about characters’ fates.

Televised coverage of the news has had several cultural effects since the 1950s. Providing viewers with footage of the most intense human experiences, televised news has been able to reach people in a way that radio and newspapers cannot. The images themselves have played an important role in influencing viewer opinion. During the coverage of the civil rights movement, for example, footage of a 1963 attack on civil rights protesters in Birmingham, Alabama, showed police blasting African American demonstrators—many of them children—with fire hoses. Coupled with images of angry White segregationist mobs squaring off against Black students, the news footage did much to sway public opinion in favor of liberal legislation such as the 1964 Voting Rights Act. Conversely, when volatile pictures of the race riots in Detroit and other cities in the late 1960s hit the airwaves, horrified viewers saw the need for a return to law and order. The footage helped create an anti-civil-rights backlash that encouraged many viewers to vote for conservative Republican Richard Nixon during the 1968 presidential election.

During the past few decades, mass-media news coverage has gone beyond swaying public opinion through mere imagery. Trusted centrist voices such as that of Walter Cronkite, who was known for his impartial reporting of some of the biggest news stories in the 1960s, have been replaced by highly politicized news coverage on cable channels such as conservative Fox News and liberal MSNBC. As broadcasters narrow their focus to cater to more specialized audiences, viewers choose to watch the networks that suit their political bias. Middle-of-the-road network CNN, which aims for nonpartisanship, frequently loses out in the ratings wars against Fox and MSNBC, both of which have fierce groups of supporters. As one reporter put it, “A small partisan base is enough for big ratings; the mildly interested middle might rather watch Grey’s Anatomy (Poniewozik, 2010).” Critics argue that partisan news networks cause viewers to have less understanding of opposing political opinions, making them more polarized.

Table 9.1 Partisan Profile of TV News Audiences in 2008

Social Controversy

The issue of whether television producers have a responsibility to promote particular social values continues to generate heated discussion. When the unmarried title character in the CBS series Murphy Brown —a comedy show about a divorced anchorwoman—got pregnant and chose to have the baby without any involvement from the father, then–Vice President Dan Quayle referenced the show as an example of degenerating family values. Linking the 1992 Los Angeles riots to a breakdown of family structure and social order, Quayle lambasted producers’ poor judgment, saying, “It doesn’t help matters when prime-time TV has Murphy Brown, a character who supposedly epitomizes today’s intelligent, highly paid professional woman, mocking the importance of fathers by bearing a child alone, and calling it just another ‘lifestyle choice (Time, 1992).’” Quayle’s outburst sparked lively debate between supporters and opponents of his viewpoint, with some praising his outspoken social commentary and others dismissing him as out of touch with America and its growing number of single mothers.

Similar controversy arose with the portrayal of openly gay characters on prime-time television shows. When the lead character on the ABC sitcom Ellen came out in 1997 (2 weeks after Ellen DeGeneres, the actress who played the role, announced that she was gay), she became the first leading gay character on both broadcast and cable networks. The show proved to be a test case for the nation’s tolerance of openly gay characters on prime-time TV and became the subject of much debate. Embraced by liberal supporters and lambasted by conservative objectors (evangelical Baptist minister Jerry Falwell infamously dubbed her “Ellen DeGenerate”), both the actress and the show furthered the quest to make homosexuality acceptable to mainstream audiences. Although Ellen was canceled the following year (amid disagreements with producers about whether it should contain a parental advisory warning), DeGeneres successfully returned to television in 2003 with her own talk show. Subsequent shows with prominent gay characters were quick to follow in Ellen ’s footsteps. According to the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD), 18 lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender characters accounted for 3 percent of scripted series regulars in the 2009–2010 broadcast television schedule, up from 1.3 percent in 2006 (Mitchell, 2009).

Creating Stars via Reality Television

Emerging out of the 1948 TV series Candid Camera , in which people were secretly filmed responding to elaborate practical jokes, reality television aimed to capture real, unscripted life on camera. The genre developed in several different directions, from home-video clip shows ( America’s Funniest Home Videos , America’s Funniest People ) to true-crime reenactment shows ( America’s Most Wanted , Unsolved Mysteries ) to thematic shows based on professions of interest ( Project Runway , Police Women of Broward County , Top Chef ). Near the turn of the millennium, the genre began to lean toward more voyeuristic shows, such as MTV’s The Real World , an unscripted “documentary” that followed the lives of seven strangers selected to live together in a large house or apartment in a major city. The show drew criticisms for glamorizing bad behavior and encouraging excessive drinking and casual sex, although its ratings soared with each successive controversy (a trend that critics claim encouraged producers to actively stage rating-grabbing scenarios). During the late 1990s and 2000s, a wave of copycat reality TV shows emerged, including the voyeuristic series Big Brother , which filmed a group of strangers living together in an isolated house full of cameras in an attempt to win large amounts of cash, and Survivor , a game show in which participants competed against each other by performing endurance challenges on an uninhabited island. Survivor ’s success as the most popular show on television in the summer of 2000 ensured the continued growth of the reality television genre, and producers turned their attention to reality dating shows such as The Bachelor , Temptation Island , and Dating in the Dark . Cheap to produce, with a seemingly never-ending supply of willing contestants and eager advertising sponsors, reality TV shows continue to bring in big ratings. As of 2010, singing talent competition American Idol is television’s biggest revenue generator, pulling in $8.1 million in advertising sales every 30 minutes it is on the air (Bond, 2010).

Figure 9.12

The stress of appearing on reality television shows has proved detrimental to some contestants’ health. Britain’s Got Talent star Susan Boyle suffered a nervous breakdown in 2009.

Banalities – SuBo Dreamed a Dream – CC BY 2.0.

Reality TV has created the cultural phenomenon of the instant celebrity. Famous for simply being on the air, reality show contestants are extending their 15 minutes in the spotlight. Kate Gosselin, star of Jon & Kate Plus 8 , a cable TV show about a couple who have eight children, has since appeared in numerous magazine articles, and in 2010 she starred on celebrity reality dance show Dancing with the Stars . Survivor contestant Elisabeth Hasselbeck became a co-host on TV talk show The View , and several American Idol contestants (including Kelly Clarkson and Carrie Underwood) have become household names. The genre has drawn criticism for creating a generation that expects to achieve instant wealth without having to try very hard and also for preying on vulnerable people whom critics call “disposable.” When Britain’s Got Talent star Susan Boyle suffered a public meltdown in 2009 after the stress of transitioning from obscurity to stardom in an extremely short time period, the media began to point out the dangers of reality television. In 2009, TheWrap.com investigated the current lives of former stars of reality shows such as The Contender , Paradise Hotel , Wife Swap , and Extreme Makeover , and found that at least 11 participants had committed suicide as an apparent result of their appearances on screen (Adams, 2009; Feldlinger).

Key Takeaways

• Television has been reflecting changing cultural values since it first gained popularity after World War II. During the 1950s, most programs ignored current events and political issues in favor of family-friendly domestic comedies, which featured White suburban middle-class families. Extreme stress during the 1960s, caused by political events such as the Vietnam War and the Cuban Missile Crisis, led people to turn to escapist television offered by fantasy sitcoms. These provided a sharp dichotomy with the hard-news shows of the era. Social consciousness during the 1970s prompted television producers to reflect changing social attitudes regarding single parenthood, women’s roles, and divorce, and sitcom families began to reflect the increasing number of non-nuclear families in society. The increasing popularity of cable TV in the 1980s led to an explosion of news and entertainment channels, some of which raised concerns about the levels of violence on television. During the 1990s and 2000s, TV networks became more specialized, catering to niche markets in order to meet the needs of an increasingly fragmented audience.
• Television reflects cultural values, and it also influences culture. One example of this is the polarization of cable TV news, which is no longer centrist but caters to individual political tastes. Critics argue that this influences cable news viewers’ opinions and makes them less open to opposing political viewpoints. Entertainment programs also play an influential role within society. By portraying controversial relationships such as single parents or gay couples as acceptable, TV shows have the power to shape viewers’ attitudes. In recent years, broadcasters have created the concept of the instant celebrity through the genre of reality television. Contestants on reality TV shows now permeate every aspect of culture and the media, from the music charts to popular magazines and newspapers.

Please respond to the following short-answer writing prompts. Each response should be a minimum of one paragraph.

• Choose a popular sitcom from the past 50 years you are familiar with (you can view episodes on Hulu.com to refamiliarize yourself if necessary). Using the ideas in this section as a starting point, identify three ways in which your chosen sitcom reflects or reflected American culture.
• Spend a few days reviewing news coverage on Fox News and MSNBC. How is coverage of similar news stories different? Do you think partisan news networks can affect public opinion? Why or why not?

Adams, Guy. “Lessons From America on the Dangers of Reality Television,” Independent (London), June 6, 2009, http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/lessons-from-america-on-the-dangers-of-reality-television-1698165.html .

Blakey, Rea. “Study Links TV Viewing Among Kids to Later Violence,” CNN Health , March 28, 2002, http://archives.cnn.com/2002/HEALTH/parenting/03/28/kids.tv.violence/index.html .

Bond, Paul. “‘Idol’ Listed as TV’s Biggest Revenue Generator,” Hollywood Reporter , May 5, 2010, http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/news/e3i8f1f42046a622bda2d602430b16d3ed9 .

Coontz, Stephanie. “‘Leave It to Beaver’ and ‘Ozzie and Harriet’: American Families in the 1950s,” in The Way We Never Were: American Families and the Nostalgia Trip (New York: BasicBooks, 1992), 28.

Forbes, “BET Networks Unveils New African American Consumer Market Research and New Programming at 2010 Upfront Presentation,” April 14, 2010, http://www.forbes.com/feeds/prnewswire/2010/04/14/prnewswire201004141601PR_NEWS_USPR_____NE86679.html .

Fox News, The O’Reilly Factor, “Is Black Entertainment Television Taking a Disturbing Turn?” Fox News , May 26, 2004, http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,120993,00.html .

Frank Feldlinger, “TheWrap Investigates: 11 Players Have Committed Suicide,” TheWrap, http://www.thewrap.com/television/article/thewrap-investigates-11-players-have-committed-suicide-3409 .

Friedman, Michael J. “‘See It Now’: Murrow vs. McCarthy,” in Edward R. Murrow: Journalism at Its Best , publication of U.S. Department of State, June 1, 2008, http://www.america.gov/st/democracyhr-english/2008/June/20080601110244eaifas8.602542e-02.html .

Gunther, Marc. “The Extinction of Mass Culture, CNN Money , July 12, 2006, http://money.cnn.com/2006/07/11/news/economy/pluggedin_gunther.fortune/index.htm .

Mitchell, Wendy. “GLAAD Report: Gay Characters on Network TV Still on the Rise,” Entertainment Weekly , September 30, 2009, http://hollywoodinsider.ew.com/2009/09/30/glaad-report-gay-characters-on-rise/ .

Newcomb, Horace. ed., Encyclopedia of Television (New York: Fitzroy Dearborn, 2004), 389.

Poniewozik, James. “CNN: Can a Mainstream News Outlet Survive?” Time , May 3, 2010, http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1983901,00.html .

Time, “Dan Quayle vs. Murphy Brown,” June 1, 1992, http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,975627,00.html .

Understanding Media and Culture Copyright © 2016 by University of Minnesota is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License , except where otherwise noted.

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You Are What You Watch? The Social Effects of TV

There’s new evidence that viewing habits can affect your thinking, political preferences, even cognitive ability.

By Jonathan Rothwell

Other than sleeping and working, Americans are more likely to watch television than engage in any other activity .

A wave of new social science research shows that the quality of shows can influence us in important ways, shaping our thinking and political preferences, even affecting our cognitive ability.

In this so-called golden age of television , some critics have pointed out that the best of the form is equivalent to the most enriching novels. And high-quality programming for children can be educational. But the latest evidence also suggests there can be negative consequences to our abundant watching, particularly when the shows are mostly entertainment.

The harm seems to come not so much from the content itself but from the fact that it replaces more enlightening ways of spending time.

‘Sesame Street’ as a social experiment

Cognitive ability is a complex characteristic that emerges from interactions between biological dispositions, nutrition and health, parenting behaviors, formal and informal educational opportunities, and culture.

Studying the connection between intelligence and television consumption is far from straightforward, but researchers have developed compelling ways to isolate the effects of television.

Some of the best research has been done on the television program “Sesame Street.” The show, which began in 1969, was meant to develop early literacy, numeracy and emotional skills for children of preschool age. A detailed analysis of the show’s content in its first and second years reveals that 80 percent of the program was dedicated to those goals, with the rest meant to entertain.

Researchers randomly assigned groups of low-income children age 3 to 5 into an experimental group and a control group. In the experimental group, parents were given access to the show if they lacked it and encouraged in person once a month to have their children watch the show.

[The topics new parents are talking about. Evidence-based guidance. Personal stories that matter. Sign up for the NYT Parenting newsletter for the info you need.]

Almost all (93 percent) parents of children in the experimental group reported that their children subsequently watched the show, compared with roughly one-third of children in the control group (35 percent). Among watchers, those in the experimental group also watched more frequently.

Over six months, from November 1970 to May 1971, the experimental group gained 5.4 I.Q. points — a large effect — relative to the control group and showed stronger evidence of learning along several other dimensions. Gains in cognitive performance were especially large for those who viewed the show frequently relative to those who did so rarely or never. A more recent meta-analysis of published research in 15 countries shows that “Sesame Street” has similar effects around the world.

In newly published research , the economists Melissa Kearney and Phillip Levine examined longer-term effects of “Sesame Street” by comparing the educational outcomes of children and young adults in counties more or less likely to have access to the program during its early years. They found that children living in counties with better “Sesame Street” coverage were less likely to be held behind a grade level.

Other experimental research is consistent with the original “Sesame Street” findings. Low-income prekindergarten children scored higher on a social competence index six months after being randomly assigned to an experimental group, in which their parents were encouraged to replace age-inappropriate television with educational television.

Less reading and more watching

In Norway, and a handful of other developed countries, average I.Q. scores have declined slightly in recent years, after rising for many decades. This is known as the negative Flynn effect, a variation of the more famous Flynn effect , which is named after the psychologist who first published comprehensive evidence of I.Q. gains over time. Among native Norwegian men taking an exam at age 18 for military conscription, those born in 1974 scored two I.Q. points higher than those born in 1987.

In an academic article published this year, the Norwegian economist Oystein Hernaes and his co-authors attributed some of this decline in I.Q. scores to access to cable television, which also coincided with a sharp decline in reading. After the introduction of cable in 1981, Norwegian teenagers and young adults drastically cut back on daily time spent reading from 1980 to 2000, and increased their time watching TV. Moreover, relative to public television, cable television had far less educational content and was focused on entertainment and advertisements.

To estimate the effect of cable television on I.Q. scores, the Norwegian scholars analyzed data on the introduction of cable network infrastructure by municipality. They calculated years of exposure to cable by considering the age of eventual test takers when cable became available in their municipality. They controlled for any potential geographic bias by comparing siblings with greater or less exposure to cable television based on their age when cable infrastructure was put in.

They estimate that 10 years of exposure to cable television lowered I.Q. scores by 1.8 points. In related research , Mr. Hernaes finds that exposure to cable television reduced voter turnout in local elections.

Berlusconi television

A similar study was conducted by the Italian economist Ruben Durante and his co-authors and released in this month’s issue of the American Economic Review. They examined the introduction of Silvio Berlusconi’s television network, Mediaset, which specialized in light entertainment such as game shows featuring scantily clad women.

The economists document that Mediaset devoted almost no programming to educational content and did not offer news in early years, whereas its main competitor — the state-owned channel — devoted the majority of its airtime to news or educational material.

To study the effects of Mediaset, Mr. Durante and his co-authors obtained data on the location of Mediaset transmitters in 1985 and calculated the strength of the broadcasting signal in every Italian municipality based on the position of the transmitters and other technical features of the municipality.

They found that children raised in areas with greater access to Mediaset (a standard deviation in signal strength) had lower cognitive scores as adults by the equivalent of 3 to 4 I.Q. points.

People more exposed to Mediaset as children were also less likely to be civically engaged adults and more likely to vote for parties with populist tendencies like Forza Italia and the Five Star Movement.

A handful of American studies along these lines have focused on the political consequences that news media coverage can have, showing that exposure to Fox News could increase Republican Party vote shares significantly, and that exposure to MSNBC increased Democratic Party voting share (but with a much weaker effect).

Art and public health

We know that education increases cognitive ability, so it stands to reason that educational television would also have a positive effect.

Concerns about culture are hardly novel: Plato made a case for regulating the quality of artistic productions to avoid the corruption of youth and weakening of their character. Twenty-three centuries later, it is easier than ever to placate children as well as lose yourself in entertainment options — in the ocean of online videos, podcasts, cable, and streaming shows and movies.

These options are most likely harmless. Some provide relaxation, and others may modestly reshape cultural attitudes for the better; one study found that the introduction of cable TV empowered women in India. High-quality shows and films can be inspiring, even edifying.

Still, media providers and advertisers compete aggressively for our attention. Most lack the altruistic motivations that guided the producers of the original “Sesame Street.” The evidence from social science suggests that biased or sensationalist news programs may misinform citizens or discourage civic engagement, and that we should also be cautious about what we give up for the sake of entertainment.

Jonathan Rothwell is the Principal Economist at Gallup, a nonresident senior fellow at the Brookings Institution and a visiting scholar at the George Washington University Institute of Public Policy. He is the author of a book, “ A Republic of Equals : A Manifesto for a Just Society,” to be published by Princeton University Press in the fall, on the causes of income inequality. You can follow him on Twitter at @jtrothwell , and listen to his podcast, “ Out of the Echo Chamber .”

Television Effects on Society Essay

Introduction, whom does television affect, how does television affect the public, suggestions for reducing the time spent in front of screens.

Can you imagine our life without television? Modern technologies allow people’s watching programs and shows with the help of a lot of devices, and it is rather difficult to imagine the day without watching TV or using it as the background noise while being involved in the other activities. Today, a lot of people spend their spare time sitting in front of screens and watching many programs which are really not necessary to be watched because they do not include any useful information.

Furthermore, they can have even harmful effects on the public’s consciousness. Television is one of the most influential aspects of the modern life because it is actively used to influence the people’s attitude to this or that situation or phenomenon, and many persons become the victims of the television impact.

Thus, television has negative effects on society because it influences the individuals’ psychological state and mental abilities, their emotions and feelings, attitudes and vision of the moral values, the capacities to make the independent decisions and effective choices.

There are few people who do not feel the impact of television on their life because even when the public is not interested in programs and shows, commercials seem to follow us in all the aspects of the life with affecting the tendencies and fashion and influencing our choice every day. Television affects all the age categories of people. Nevertheless, the impact of television on children is the most dangerous because children have no abilities to assess the information presented in TV programs and shows critically.

Many parents are inclined to use television for attracting the children’s attention and entertaining them without concentrating on the fact that the impact of television on the children’s brain and emotional state can be negative. Moreover, today it is possible to notice a lot of toddlers who spend their time in front of the screen without their parents’ control. Thus, the impact of television on children is the quite controversial question.

However, adults also feel the great impact of television on their lives because there are tendencies to watch TV while having a rest, eating, communicating with friends, and completing different everyday activities ( Television , n.d.). That is why, it is necessary to mention that television affects the majority of people without references to their age and even without focusing on their social status because now television is the most available way of entertaining and getting the information.

What is the difference between the negative impact of television on children and adults? Today, many researchers and doctors pay attention to the fact that children are more influenced by the information presented in TV programs because of their limited possibility to distinguish between fantasy and reality.

The most problematic issue is the impact of violence depicted in TV shows on the children’s minds and psychological state. The violent actions presented in TV programs are perceived by children as real, and they can consider them as possible to follow ( Television , n.d.). Thus, television can change the peculiarities of the children’s perception of moral values and definite virtues.

Violence in TV shows and cartoons can provoke the children’s brutal actions and conflicts in their relations with friends and classmates in reality because children are inclined to reflect those behavioral patterns which they observe. Moreover, not only the character of information can be influential for children.

The practice of spending many hours in front of the TV screens can affect the children’s performance at school and their classroom engagement because the habit of watching TV provokes children’s being passive, their lack of interest in school activities, and reduces the concentration of attention ( How to promote good television habits, 2008).

The impact of television on adults and their emotional state can also be negative. Focusing on the character of the information presented in TV news and shows, it is possible to note that people receive a lot of information every day which stimulates their negative reactions, different types of emotional downs, apathy and pessimism. Commercials which are used on television can have a lot of negative effects on adults.

Those persons who are influenced by commercials are inclined to buy a lot of unnecessary products. They also can feel dissatisfaction because of the impossibility to follow all the tendencies and buy all the products promoted with the help of commercials ( Television , n.d.). However, many persons use television in order to entertain themselves. In this case, TV shows and entertaining programs make people be passive and contribute to developing the habits of the sedentary lifestyle.

The family tradition to watch TV in the evening can be discussed as good only when the process is not passive, the choice of a program is relevant, and the members of the family have the opportunity to discuss it. That is why it is also important to concentrate on the negative impact of television on the people’s health, especially on their eyes, which is affected by the usage of different technological devices.

To reduce the negative effects of television on society, it is necessary to cut the time which people spend in front of their TV screens. The practice of limited watching TV is important for children who should watch TV programs less than two hours a day, and it is more useful not to watch TV during the week days and reduce all the screen-based activities which are harmful for the children’s health. Children reflect the behaviors of their parents.

That is why adults should also have the special schedule of watching TV with choosing mainly the programs about nature, history or science. The negative impact of television can be effectively reduced when people do not watch TV while eating and communicating. Moreover, to have TV sets in bedrooms is also the harmful practice. The habit to watch TV in order to spend spare time can be successfully changed with the habit to walk with friends and children ( How to promote good television habits, 2008).

Thus, television can influence our attitude to life, our choice, and our decisions without our awareness of the fact. People can react to the information presented in TV news and TV shows consciously as well as unconsciously. That is why it is almost impossible to predict the effects of television on the next actions and behaviors or our emotional state.

The impact of television on the people’s minds and health is often negative because of the lack of controlling the time in front of the screens and the choice of programs and shows. Nevertheless, it can be reduced with decreasing the role of television in the people’s everyday life.

How to promote good television habits . (2008).

Television . (n.d.) Web.

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Impact of Television in The 1950s

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Student Essays

Essay On Television | Importance, Advantages & Disadvantages

Television is an important part of our society. It has the great impact in our social, educational cultural life. Along with newspapers, computers, the TV channels are important medium of communication and development.

Read Essays on Television, importance, advantages and Disadvantages with introduction, conclusion and short points for students. The topic about Television includes essay on television for class 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9 and 10th level students.

The Television; Importance, Advantages & Disadvantages | Essays  & Paragraphs For Children & Students

The Television is an important and most critical part of our lives. It keeps us connected to the world out of our sight. The Television plays a vital role in our personal and public lives. Along with its benefits that it offers, the TV has a lot of disadvantages as well. The following write ups describe meaning role, importance, advantages & disadvantages for children & students.

Essay on Television, Advantages and Disadvantages

The Television is the most common and the cheapest mode of media in use. It broadcasts the current affairs of the world. It communicates all the happenings around the world through television.

Television is not only a source of receiving daily updates about worldwide but it is a good source of entertainment too. It means that Television helps us to get updated about the daily happenings throughout the world.

Advantages of Television

Television broadcasts innumerable educational programs that help students to improve their knowledge. Specially the programs regarding science and technology are a big asset to students to improve their studies. The instructive and learning programs are on aired through TV that provide the productive study material for students.

Inducing learning and motivating people through television is also helpful to excel in all fields of life. There are some television channels that are solely created to instruct and educate. Through television we learn about the history of the world, about the ancient civilizations and other historical facts.

Women at home are entirely dependent on Television as it is their best companion in free time. Many drama serials are broadcasted through television that help women to kill their leisure time at home. Not only this, but they can learn from productive teaching programs like cooking, sewing, home business ideas etc.

Many animated programs and cartoon channels are broadcasted, especially for children. All the programs for kids are very informative that help kids learn moral lessons and other things easily. On the whole television is also considered as a big stress buster for all people who are on the work whole the day long.  When they return their homes they occupy their self in watching various channels.  They can watch funny programs and listen songs that give them a great relief.

Television is a source of entertainment. Adults watch sports channels and enjoy watching live games. There are some programs dedicated to create disease awareness and prevention. Television facilitates bonding both at family and at the international levels.

Sitting with family members and watching television is a bonding time among members of a family. Television also help increase creativity. People can find new ways of solving problems of life.

Some religious programs are also broadcasted to teach religion and help improve living standard of a family. Religious programs are not only liked by people but people adopt religious teachings to lead a good life.

Disadvantages of Television

As we know that along with good and productive content there is illicit content on Television. It adversely affects the character and lifestyle of a person. Vulgarity, foul language, nudity and grotesque imagery are very bad content. It  has left very bad impacts on New generation.

It is commonly observed nowadays that teenagers are excessively using foul language. They are seen while participating in violent showdowns and copying what they see in movies and wrestling. Spending more and more time watching television for hours,  causes serious health hazards among people like obesity and other health complications.

It also interferes with the sleep cycle of the viewers. People often waste productive sleep hours watching television. Finally these poor sleeping practices cause depression, headache and several other illnesses. Addiction of Television also affects social interactions. It can ruins relationships.

Watching television in excess is a wastage of time. Our most of the time is consumed in television. It disturbs our working commitments. It has been observed, specially among students, that they waste their precious time in  television. They do not give proper time to their studies that at last affect their academic progress.

We are bombarded with hundreds of advertisements each day. And eventually we become connected with the items advertised. We start using and wearing whatever we see on television. In this way we destroy our natural instincts and get fabricated with television.

2. Paragraph on Importance of Television

Television is an electronic device with screen that deliver us information in the form of graphic shapes with the help of broadcasting signals. It kicks our boredom and makes us fresh and entertains us.

Television plays a vital role in carrying news and information across the world. Since it’s invention in 1927 it has remained an important part of our life. News channels like CNN, BBC etc keep us updated. With the help of TV we are aware of what happens in the world.

Television help in learning a lot of things. Many programs of television help us know our past. It informs us all about the rich civilizations of world. The historical sketch is provided in order to teach to live in a good way.

Apart from it, the television is our best companion when we are lonely at home.  Women at home, not only spend free time watching television but they also learn how to cook different recipes of food around the world. Women learn and cook new dishes and enjoy eating with family members.

The Television keeps us connected with the world. It also helps raising the capacity of mind. It teaches a lot of ways to solve our day to day problems. The TV facilitates creativity. Quite often, it  is observed that people who watch informational channels on television have more facts and concepts compared to those who do not watch TV.

The TV on airs different programs. Some programs of Television motivate people to pursue their dreams through motivational videos and inspirational speeches from successful individuals in various fields. It also has some health benefits.

Laughter therapy is found greatly on television. When we watch comedies and hilarious programs they keeps us laughing and happy because laughter is the best medicine . The importance of TV can be understood from the fact that nowadays it is used a medium to spread spiritual and religious messages as well.  It assist those people who are in need of spiritual nourishment. The TV occupies an important place in our lives.

We can not help live without television. The TV help us aware of the happenings all around the world.  It entertains us and enriches our minds with creativity. It helps kids learn a lot at home. All programs are broadcasted in order to benefit humanity.

Short Speech On Television & Its Importance for Students

Good Morning to all, today I will talk about the an electronic device which is found in every house. It has become an instrument of entertainment and fun at home. This electronic device has taken a good place in the family system.

Television has become like a family member. There would be hardly any home in which the television is not found. Therefore, the TV as an essential entity has many advantages as well disadvantages.

If we will start counting its merits we will come to know that it is a blessing.  As it is the best medium of information.  There are many channels on TV who release informative programs.

The availability of TV at home makes a man updated. The TV makes us know whatever good or bad is happening right now around the world. Many informative programs are on aired dedicated for children only. Different channels play cartoons programs to entertain and aware at home. TV is an affordable and easy mode of entertainment for families to provide to their kids.

Television is the best source of knowledge too. It is good source of the growth of mind. It enables us to differentiate between the right and wrong. The knowledge related to different issues help men to lead a good life.

On the other hand this electronic device is a bane. It corrupts the mindset of youth.There are some TV programs, shows, movies and songs that impact the moral standing of our youth. A lot of inappropriate and vulgar content is propagated through this device. The young generation is trying to adopt those inappropriate contents in their practical life that ultimately destroys the life.

It has affected our health too.  Watching television excessively cause pain in our spine and affects our eyes. The addiction of Television breaks social interactions and makes men bound to four walls of room.

The students waste their precious time watching television for long hours. Instead of studying on time they spend their valuable time watching useless shows and movies.

Hence television is both good and bad electronic device. Though watching television in leisure time is productive one but the excess of it very baneful for our routine life.  However, listening news and watching live games on television is the best use of free time.

The parents must have an eye on their kids when they watch television. Kids, sometimes, start watching programs and movies that promote bad content which affect their character and personality.

Most of the social evils are the product of these electronic devices. The youth start reacting what they watch on television. Often, it has been seen that they adopt vulgar content of different stars.

Therefore, the TV is a dual edged sword. Since its a useful entity an we can’t ignore it entirely. For that, we need to use it with maximum care, and discipline for gaining an added value and benefits for our life.

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• Essay On Advantages And Disadvantages Of Television

Essay on Advantages and Disadvantages of Television

500+ words essay on advantages and disadvantages of television.

In today’s world, communication is a crucial aspect of life. Technological advancements made communication more accessible and cheaper. Among all the communication devices such as smartphones, radios, and emails, television is the prominent and common medium for communication. We get to see television in every household. It is an integral part of our society that significantly impacts our social, educational, and cultural life. It reaches a mass audience and provides information about the daily happenings in the world. Furthermore, it is a common source of entertainment among family members.

John Logie Baird invented the television in the 1920s. The word “tele” means distance, and “vision” means to see, which means to watch it from a distance. When television was invented, it showed only pictures of low resolution. But, later on, televisions were modified with the latest technologies. Televisions that we purchase today come with multiple features. We can connect our phone, laptop, tab, and internet access various online apps, HD/UHD quality pictures, 4k-8k resolutions, etc.

We can also watch various educational channels on television. It also keeps us updated by providing news about the world through different news channels. Along with information, it also entertains us with movies, serials, dramas, reality shows, music channels, yoga channels, etc.

So, having a television at home seems to be a great advantage, but the disadvantages are also threatening. The time it consumes from our day-to-day life is more. You can see people going out of routine or postponing schedules if they become addicted to watching television.

Here, in the essay, we will discuss the advantages and disadvantages of watching television.

Advantages of Television

Television comes with enormous advantages. The most important is it gives us information about current affairs and events across the globe. This information is broadcasted through various news channels, which helps us to keep ourselves updated about recent happenings. It also shares information about multiple programmes or facilities launched by the government. The government also take the help of news channels to communicate with the mass.

We can watch daily soaps, reality shows, music channels, movies, etc. We can also watch food channels and try out recipes at home. During the morning time, if you switch on the television, you will get to watch telemarketing ads. Specific channels broadcast only ads for multiple products, and people can also buy them.

Children can watch various cartoons on the television. Some cartoons teach children about moral values and lessons. It also keeps us informed about the economic condition and the stock market. We also get to watch various fashion shows and keep updated about the latest trends on television.

Earlier, television was costly, but now it comes at an affordable price with multiple features. Now, we get the option to subscribe to our favourite channels and only need to pay for those channels. Educational programmes are also available on television. We can also watch live cricket shows and cheer for our country. Television also telecasts interviews of various political leaders, celebrities, influencers, famous personalities, etc. We can also gain knowledge by watching various quiz programmes.

Television provides opportunities to spend time with our family and friends. We can enjoy watching a movie together. Various channels telecast comedy shows that help us keep positivity in our lives. We also watch movies in different regional languages like Tamil, Kannada, Telugu, etc. It helps us connect with people from diverse backgrounds.

Nowadays, we can also play games on the television and watch agricultural programmes specially designed for the farmers. It promotes national integration.

Disadvantages of Television

There are advantages of watching television, but it also comes with disadvantages. Watching too much TV affects our mental and physical health. When we watch television continuously, it affects our eyes and makes us lazy. Even there are some programmes which are not suitable for kids. We even compromise our sleep to watch TV. Children lose their concentration on their studies by watching too much television. Children prefer to watch TV over reading books to spend their leisure time.

Conclusion of Essay on Advantages and Disadvantages of Television

There are advantages and disadvantages of television. If television is helpful, it is harmful too. One should not watch television excessively.

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Essay on Impact Of Television On Society

Students are often asked to write an essay on Impact Of Television On Society in their schools and colleges. And if you’re also looking for the same, we have created 100-word, 250-word, and 500-word essays on the topic.

Let’s take a look…

100 Words Essay on Impact Of Television On Society

Introduction to television.

Television is like a big box with pictures and sounds that reaches homes around the world. It shows us different programs like cartoons, news, movies, and sports. People of all ages watch TV to learn new things and have fun.

Learning and Education

TV can be a teacher. It has programs that help kids learn the alphabet, numbers, and about animals. There are also shows that teach older students about history and science. Watching these can make learning enjoyable.

Entertainment

One of the best things about TV is that it entertains us. After a long day at school or work, people relax by watching their favorite shows. There are many types for everyone – comedies, dramas, and game shows.

Family Time

Television brings families together. They sit in the living room to watch movies or play TV games. It’s a time when parents and kids can laugh and talk about what they watch.

News and Information

TV is important for news. It tells us what’s happening around the world. People watch the weather report to plan their day or learn about important events that may affect their lives.

Television has a big impact on society. It teaches, entertains, brings families closer, and keeps everyone informed. It’s a powerful tool that, when used well, can be very good for everyone.

250 Words Essay on Impact Of Television On Society

Television’s role in society.

Television has become a big part of our lives. Most homes have at least one TV. It’s a way for us to learn new things and to relax after a long day. But, TV also has a strong effect on society.

Learning from TV

TV can be a great teacher. There are channels that show us about animals, space, and different countries. Kids can watch fun programs that also teach them numbers, letters, and good habits. Because of TV, we can learn about things happening all over the world without leaving our homes.

Entertainment for Everyone

People love to be entertained, and TV gives us many choices. We can watch sports, movies, and our favorite shows. Families often spend time together watching TV. It makes us laugh and sometimes cry. TV stories can also make us think and feel for others.

Changing Habits

Yet, TV can change the way we live. Some people might sit and watch TV for many hours and not exercise or play outside. This can lead to health problems. It’s important to balance TV time with other activities.

TV shows a lot of advertisements. These ads can make us want to buy things we don’t need. They can also show us what is ‘cool’ or ‘not cool.’ This can affect how we think about ourselves and what we think is important in life.

In summary, television has a big impact on society. It can teach us, entertain us, and even change the way we think and act. It’s up to us to decide how much TV we watch and what programs we choose to see.

500 Words Essay on Impact Of Television On Society

Introduction to television’s role in society.

Television is like a big window in our homes that shows us different parts of the world, stories, and information. It has been around for many years and has become a big part of our daily lives. Most families have at least one television at home. It affects how we think, what we learn, and how we spend our time.

One of the best things about television is that it helps us learn. There are channels that teach us about animals, space, and history. Shows made for kids can help them learn numbers, letters, and important life lessons. When we watch these programs, we can learn new things without even going to school or reading a book.

Entertainment and Fun

Television is a great way to have fun and relax. After a long day at school or work, many people like to sit down and watch their favorite shows or movies. There are so many choices, like comedies that make us laugh, dramas that tell us exciting stories, and sports that show us games and competitions.

Watching television can also be a way for families to spend time together. Parents and children can pick a show that everyone likes and watch it as a group. This can make the family feel closer and give them something to talk about and share.

Television keeps us up to date with what’s happening in the world. News programs tell us about the weather, important events, and things that our leaders are doing. This helps us to know what’s going on around us and can make us better citizens because we understand our world better.

Changes in Behavior

Not all the effects of television are good, though. Sometimes, watching too much TV can lead to bad habits. People might sit for too long and not get enough exercise. Kids might see things that are not meant for them, like violence or bad behavior, and think it’s okay. It’s important for parents to watch what their kids see on TV.

Advertising and Shopping

Television also shows us a lot of ads. These ads try to get us to buy things, like toys, snacks, and clothes. Sometimes they make us want things we don’t really need. It’s important to think carefully before buying something just because we saw it on TV.

Television has a big impact on society. It can teach us, make us laugh, and bring us together. At the same time, we have to be careful with what we watch and how much time we spend in front of the TV. By choosing good programs and watching them at the right times, television can be a helpful tool for learning and fun. It’s up to us to use it in the best way possible.

That’s it! I hope the essay helped you.

If you’re looking for more, here are essays on other interesting topics:

• Essay on Impact Of Technology On Youth
• Essay on Impact Of Technology On Teenager
• Essay on Impact Of Technology On Politics

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Essay on Television in English for Students and Children

Table of Contents

Television Essay: Television is one of the greatest inventions of mankind. Since the invention of first ever electronic television in 1927, the television has undergone a number of changes in shape and size as well as in terms of transmission technology and picture quality.

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Today, the sleek, wall mounted televisions of different sizes are found in billions of houses across the world. They come in different sizes and are also equipped with latest technology, capable of showing hundreds of channels.

The television has gained immense popularity over time and today it is found in almost every household, the world over. Sure, it is good for entertainment purposes and is informative, but it also has its set of disadvantages, which we will discuss further in the essay.

Long and Short Essay on Television in English

Below we have provided long and short essay on television in English language. These Television essay have been written using the simple vocabulary and easy to understand sentences.

After going through the essays you would know – what is television; when and who invented it; how a television acts as a medium of education; is the television a boon or a bane; is television corrupting the minds of youth; what are the advantages and disadvantages of television, is television better than books, is television harmful to the society, etc.

Short Essay on Television (200 Words) – Essay 1

Today a television is found in almost every house across the world. The rich, the poor all have it and it is one of their most entertaining possessions. However, the television that we see today is completely different from its predecessor in a number of ways.

The first televisions were very basic and started appearing in the early 1800s. Though, they were rudimentary and worked purely on mechanical principles. The concept involved scanning an image and then transmitting it onto a screen.

A major breakthrough came when the mechanical scanning system was combined with a cathode ray tube in 1907 by a Russian Boris Rosing and English A.A. Campbell Swinton.

World’s first electronic television was invented in 1927 by a 21 years old inventor – Philo Taylor Farnsworth. He used radio wave technology to remotely transmit images to a device with screen. His technology was way ahead of mechanical TV concept.

Today, the television has become most important household equipment, so much so that it is almost impossible to spot a house without a television set. It is great for entertainment purpose and could be really informative too, but also has certain disadvantages like addiction, explicit and violent content, social and psychological effects on a person etc.

Essay on Television as a Medium of Education (300 Words) – Essay 2

Introduction

Television could really be a great source of education if only informative and knowledge based channels are viewed or subscribed. There are various channels which offer educational programs for school and college going students. There are also tutorial channels based on specific subjects for the students. A television has a variety of educational programs to cater to a variety of audiences. It has educational programs for the children, the young and also the old.

Role of Television in Education

The role of television in education building has been acknowledged by many countries around the world. It is used as a tool for effectively teaching both formal and non formal education. A television could be synchronized with school curriculum and used to teach a specific subject.

Television is also an efficient method of effectively obtaining non formal education, for those youth and adults who didn’t have a chance to obtain formal education. It could be effectively impart skills, provide vocational training and other necessary cultural and civic education, when used properly.

Educational Television Programs

Today you don’t need to approach your physics teacher, after school hours to understand the Newton’s laws of motion. You just need to switch to educational section in your television and choose from a number of tutorial programs in Physics.

Despite subject oriented programs, a television offers various other non formal education programs which enhance your overall knowledge on issues other than subject matter. To state a few examples History Channel, Discovery Channel, National Geographic Channel and various other science based Channels do a great deal of imparting education.

Essay on Is Television Better Than Books (350 Words) – Essay 3

Television is an audio visual machine which provides entertainment in the form of various programs, transmitted through air, in the form of radio signals, to be received by your Television. Books on the other hand have no electronics involved and have printed pages, to be read by their prospective Reader and are also aimed at conveying some useful information or entertaining him.

Is Television Better Than Books?

Both, books and television are two different modes of information exchange, aimed at providing useful or sometimes bogus information to the user and entertaining him. But the environment in which they are used and the effect that they have on their respective users are totally different. Television in a normal household is generally placed at common place-a place where the family, friends or visiting relatives gather.

People meet in front of Television, to watch their favorite shows, or to just listen lazily to the News. Whatever the reason may be, TV is only a short term entertainment option which does not provide you much useful information except when you are listening to News.

Books unlike Television are to be read in silence , stressing upon every word, every sentence and letting it slowly seep into your memory through your eyes, while you lie relaxed on your favorite chair or lying down on your bed. Reading Books is like a spiritual exercise, which satisfies your desire to be entertained in a silent but effective way. Watching Television on the other hand, after sometime will leave you stressed, looking for peace and silence. TV slowly drains your inner peace and tranquility, leaving you stressed and flabbergasted. Whatever the TV does to you, Books do just the opposite.

Reading a favorite Book in silence sitting on your favorite chair will relax your soul and mind, and the more you read, the more you will feel content and informed.

Essay on Television a Boon or Bane (400 Words) – Essay 4

Today, the television is found in billions of houses the world over. As per global statistics, nearly 79% of total households own at least one TV set. With such immense popularity and acceptability television has also hugely influenced individuals and even societies. In this essay we will discuss on the boon and bane factors of the television, ending with conclusion.

Television as a Boon

Television, when properly used is a vast sea of knowledge and information as well as the best source of entertainment. There are a number of ways to justify the usefulness of television in our lives. First of all, it is the most primary and most popular source of entertainment. It provides a number of entertainment programs, ranging from daily soaps, singing and dancing competitions, news channels, movie channels, science and fiction channels, business channels, automobile channels and lot more. Moreover, you can view these channels in the language of your choice.

Apart from being entertaining, television is also a tool to gain education and information. There are various channels based on subject matters for school and college going students as well as for the students of PhD level.

There are also a number of NEWS channels running live news from various corners of the world, covering every significant political, social and educational event. A Television set provides all of this useful information in the comfort of our homes, thus proving that television is a boon to humanity.

Television as a Bane

Despite of all the advantages that make television a boon to human race, there also are certain traits of television which could make it really annoying. Speak of the television as annoying and the first thing that flashes through our minds is noise. The sound of a highly emotional soap opera coming from the next room when you are trying to study or sleep could be quite frustrating and annoying.

Moreover, a television also transmits adult and violent programs which could be really misleading for youngsters. Exposure to such malicious contents impacts the personality and social skills of the youngsters, often making them arrogant, hostile, corrupt, violent and socially obscure. Also, addiction to television is an added disadvantage which along with the mentioned effects makes television a bane to humanity.

Essay on Television Is Harmful To the Society (450 Words) – Essay 5

Television is an audio visual device which entertains you through various visual programs transmitted through air. The information that it provides is not always useful, however that depends on the user to a larger extent. Television since its inception has a vast affect on Civilization, ranging from health to sociological and sometimes psychological. Though it is a source of information, the incessant use of Televisions has led to many medical conditions and a drastic change in the social fabric.

Television is Harmful to the Society

Today the younger generation is more susceptible to myopic vision (a medical condition in which person looses his/her normal eyesight) as a result of watching Television for longer duration than advised. Watching TV closely or for longer duration also results in tired eyes, headache and lost concentration.

In past few years there has been a reported increase in the number of children suffering from visual disorders, lost concentration and headache as a consequence of watching TV. Apart from injuring their eye sight, TV slowly makes them inactive turning them into introverts. Instead of going out and playing, mingling with other children, making new friends, they sit motionless and watch TV for hours. The effect that the TV has on their overall persona is not very hard to imagine. Television basically transforms fun loving, outgoing, little enthusiastic wanderers into dumb, visually impaired and introvert kids.

The TV ahs also affected the society in the same manner as it has affected the kids. Today if you visit any locality your town, city or village in evening, you will find closed doors with different sounds of Television coming from the houses. Instead of socializing in their free time, people have taken to watching their favorite program on TV, which provides no informational value at all.

In the past years, when there was no TV, people spend their time socializing, asking about each other’s health and well being, reading their favorite books or newspapers, playing sports and helping one another in the time of need. Now with the invention of TV, all the doors of socialization got closed and people are silently watching TV behind their closed doors, while there neighbor might be looking for help.

Essay on Is Television Corrupting the Mind of Youth (500 Words) – Essay 6

Television is the most widely used and most popular audio visual device used for entertainment and informative purposes. Wide acceptability has made television a household name and its popularity cuts across ages and classes. Youths, however are more vulnerable to the negative effects of television, due to immaturity and tender age. In the following essay we will discuss on how television is corrupting the minds of youth and what remedial measures could be taken to eliminate it.

How is Television Corrupting the Minds of Youth?

First of all, watching television could be a waste of time if not watched for informative or knowledge purpose. Many television programs show inappropriate adult contents, teen violence, drug abuse, sexual and other similar offences, undesirable language, bullying etc. Also, most of the movies shown today contain high degree of violence and bloodshed. Such programs hugely affect the psychological and social behaviour of the youth.

An uncontrolled exposure of violent and corrupt programs make the youth arrogant, violent and more prone to corrupt practices. For example, watching crime based serial or movies make the immature minds of youths to follow the same corrupt practices. Also, teens tend to copy undesirable activities like eve teasing and staking, as is shown in many programs and movies.

Moreover, smoking and liquor consumption are some of the most common activities shown in television programs. Such activities have high influence on the teens, who relate them with manhood. Somehow, they tend to believe that they could only be a complete man if they smoke as well as consume liquor as the actors on the television do it.

Necessary Measures to Keep the Youth Safe from Ill Effects of Television

The most effective method to keep the youths safe from the influence of television is to provide limited access to them. Also, there should be a restriction on the channels they view and they must only be allowed to view informative and knowledgeable programs. Viewing malicious and violent content by youngsters must be strictly prohibited.

Parents and guardians should be more communicative with their wards, discussing on the derogatory effects of television among other issues. Children should be told on how to use television for gaining information and education.

Youths should be well informed about the advantages as well as the disadvantages of television and also that watching inappropriate content on television will adversely affect their behaviour and social life as well as distort their thought and morale.

These days a number of youths are taking up bullying, smoking, consuming liquor other corrupt practices under the influence of television.

Long Essay on Television – Advantages and Disadvantages (600 Words) – Essay 7

Television, despite being immensely popular, once the TV was called an “Idiot box”, because back then it was less informative and more entertaining. But as the time passed, the advantages of television have also increased. Still, the advantages are countered by the disadvantages, a narration of which is provided below. In the concluding paragraph we would be able to know, whether the advantages of television weigh more than the disadvantages or vice versa.

Advantages of Television

The advantages of television are discussed below-

• Cheap Entertainment

Television is the cheapest source of entertainment available to a common household. Various programs on information, education, entertainment, religion and other topics provide a pool of options to choose from, that too sitting in the comfort of your house. The options never seize and you will never be left bored in front of the television.

• Educational and Informative

Television is a good source of education and information. There are various educational channels dedicated to teaching students about a specific subject. 24 hour news channels will keep you up to date about the world affairs. Channels based on wildlife, science and travelling enhance your knowledge about various subjects apart from entertaining you.

• Skill Development

Television could be an effective tool for skill development. There are various programs dedicated to skills like cooking, drawing, singing, dancing etc. Anyone who desires could learn a skill of his choice by watching it done on television by the program host. If you have a hobby of cooking then you just have to switch the channel and make mouth watering dishes as your host is instructing.

• Motivational

Some television programs could also be motivational for any one in need. Channels offer motivational speeches and talk shows by some of the best in class motivational speakers. Listening to them will surely leave you feeling much better in the end.

• Wide Exposure

Television provides a wide exposure on a variety of topics ranging from world issues, news, wildlife, science and fiction, history, geography, upcoming world and national events, sports, hobbies and much more. Such vast exposure, while sitting in the comfort of your house is only possible because of television.

• Family Ties

Television also increases family ties as all the family members sit together to watch a movie or their favorite sport tournament.

Disadvantages of Television

• Violent and Inappropriate Content

This is one of the most prominent disadvantages of television. A television offers a number of violent contents and inappropriate languages which has adverse effects on youths as well as elders.

• Derogatory to Health

Sitting for longer hours in front of the television has a negative effect on the health too. It is the cause for many lifestyle diseases like diabetes, blood pressure, obesity etc.

• Social Obscurity

Person, who is addicted of television, often avoids socializing with friends and relatives, making himself a sort of introvert. Such persons become emotionally vulnerable and often show hostile behavior towards others.

• Emotional Vulnerability

Watching too much of drama on television might make you emotionally vulnerable. People are seen to face the same pain when their favorite character dies, than they would have felt on losing a real friend. Such emotional upheaval isn’t good for mental and overall health of a person.

• Hidden Agenda

Various businesses have a hidden agenda of targeting vulnerable customers through TV commercials. Every TV program has commercials, where the manufacturers frantically try to lure customers by making false claims and promises about their products.

• Shallow Information

The information that is provided by news channels on television is often only half the truth. Moreover, regular commercial breaks and an effort to glamorize the issue, keeps the real information hidden and leave you confused and wondering in the end.

• Highly Addictive

Television is highly habit forming and children are seen to be more vulnerable to its addiction. Once addicted, a person loses all interest in other hobbies and always wants to watch television whenever s/he gets the time.

FAQs on Television Essay

What is the importance of television essay.

The importance of television lies in its ability to inform, entertain, and educate, serving as a powerful medium for communication and connectivity.

t is the importance of television essay?

Television is important for its role in disseminating news, entertainment, and educational content to a wide audience.

What are the 10 advantages of television?

Ten advantages of television include: information dissemination, entertainment, educational programs, connectivity, cultural exposure, advertising opportunities, real-time news coverage, convenience, family bonding, and accessibility to a variety of content.

What is television in simple words?

Television, in simple words, is a device that displays audio and visual content, allowing people to watch shows, movies, news, and more on a screen in their homes.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of television?

Advantages of television include access to information and entertainment, while disadvantages include potential health issues and excessive screen time.

Who is the father of television?

Philo Farnsworth is often credited as the father of television for his pioneering work in developing the electronic television system.

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