This is an extremely frustrating fact that some commercials or advertisements within American broadcasting make people get bewitched and simply buy whatever. The campaign America Runs on Dunkin can be deservedly called a national offense for those who understand the real underlying meaning. The United States of America has had Dunkin Donuts products since the middle of the last century. Although the company has been known as an American feature in a long run, today it boasts of the extremely outrageous fact of launching anti-advertisement. Namely, the anti-advertisement characterizes the people of America with all its diversity as an ignorant nation.
It is hard to believe that an average American, who has been living in this state for years and saw the old good ads of the company before, such as Time to make the donuts , are likely to indulge in wasting their money just because the company conveys that all America does that, and this became a common American habit. To be more exact, it is necessary to draw the example of the Auto-pilot campaign here. It suggests to firstly buy a coffee or going to their store before doing anything else at the beginning of the day. So, why is it considered to be the best thing to do in the morning? Who said that hopping in your car and driving to the nearest Dunkin store makes you a proud American? It is decidedly that Americans do not pay much attention to what they do with their savings and furthermore with their lives. However, sorrowfully, this forces to make a conclusion that Corporations Runs the US
Another commercial that aroused controversial feelings as per diversity and mental abilities of Americans is the campaign about Fritalian. Isnt it the saddest thing in the world when the foremost fast-food company in the American market persuades that Americans are not able to form the words? Whereas keeping in mind that the US is the richest country as per diversity of the population. This is a real anti-ad for those who stick to it and take it for granted. Moreover, this fact becomes even more embarrassing when we realize that corporations run the US because of this way the scale of the horrible ignorance enhances, creating a new image of Americans the wrong one.
The anti-ad broadcasts that high-calorific products as White Hot Chocolate being a new flavor make us proud to be Americans. Is it really so? What hides beyond that? Maybe, it is the fat rates of America and the related diseases that should really force us to open the eyes, while corporation offers to autopilot to the nearest Dunkin Donut store where neither grammar nor culture matter. Therefore, it is necessary to mention that corporations have to respect the nation rather than releasing the anti-ads hoping that people will not be able to understand the hidden motives.
In conclusion, it is essential to not let the slogan America runs on Dunkin fool Americans, whereas it is all the other way around: Dunkin runs on America, indeed. The right way to handle the problem is to either come back to old slogans or make up new ones, less offensive since the buyers that corporation targets are the working class. So, it is important not to humiliate the nation because the latter is the one that helps Dunkin Donuts say America runs on Dunkin.
Considered as the oldest broadcasting network in Canada, the CBC (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation) has been experiencing a considerable decline in its viewership as of late. In comparison, BBC Canada has gained a considerable viewership making it one of the top rated channels that ordinary Canadians tune into when they want to watch quality prime time programming (Canada Newswire, 1). It is based on this that this paper will investigate the reason behind the decline of CBC and the rise of BBC Canada.
Isolating the Main Difference between the Networks
The main reason behind the decline in CBCs viewership as compared to BBC Canada is in the type of programming that is available on the channel. Despite the fact that channel had a considerable amount of network dominance within Canada during the early 1960s to late 1970s, the fact remains that its network lineup has focused mainly on made in Canada programs. In comparison, BBC Canada not only has a line-up of popular British shows but it also has several popular American TV series in its channel line-up. While made in Canada television programs are produced under a high standard, they are generally considered less interesting as compared to their American and British television counterparts which have proven effective in drawing millions of viewers each episode.
Culture of TV Programming
The reason behind the sheer popularity of American and British programs has to do with the culture of TV programming that is systemic in their respective television industries. Plot lines within many of television series show instances of dystopia, systemic violence, sarcasm, and dark humor which generate considerable level of anticipate regarding the next episode in the series (Broadcasting & Cable TV Industry Profile: Canada, 1 6).
Examples of this range from Breaking Bad , which is a top rated American drama, are series to Doctor Who , a similarly popular British made sci-fi series. In either television program, the aforementioned plot line aspects can be seen which helps to draw audiences into the series since it features elements and personalities which are simply not seen in an ordinary persons life. In comparison, while the quality of Canadian TV production titles is superb, the plot lines, on air personalities and even the general behavior of the cast in the series is far too nice in relation to the gritty details and actions that are often sought by television viewers (Broadcasting & Cable TV Industry Profile: Canada, 1 6).
What Does the CBC do well in Comparison to BBC?
While this paper has so far detailed the inadequacies of the CBC network, it is also essential to determine what it does well in comparison to BBC Canada. Presently, CBC does well when it comes to its sports coverage of international and local sports, its news network which is considered one of the primary news networks that local viewers tune into as well as its provision of services to remote locations that simply do not have access to cable television (Canada Newswire, 1).
External Competition
Unfortunately, despite the popularity of CBC as a source of news and sports related programming, it has continued to decline due to various sources of external competition. The sheer popularity of the internet has made it one of the most popular sources of information in relation to recent events and sports (Okalow, 1). Not only that, with the development of satellite TV series that reach even Canadas remotest regions, many of CBCs previous viewership have shifted towards other channels that have a greater variety of network content (Okalow, 1).
Works Cited
Broadcasting & Cable TV Industry Profile: Canada. Broadcasting & Cable TV Industry Profile: Canada (2012): 1-35. Print.
Canada, Newswire. CBC/Radio-Canada looks to the future as it makes tough choices to balance its budget. Canada Newswire 2014: Regional Business News. Web.
Okalow, Samson. Cable TV Subscribers In Historic Decline. Canadian Business (2013): 1. Print.
Sinclair Broadcasting Group (SBG) is a telecommunications company based in the USA. The organization has proved resilient through hardships. It has emerged as a leading entity in the industry. Founded in 1971 as Chesapeake Television, SBG owns a total of 162 stations. As a fact, it was the first telecommunications company to air UHF signals. The diverse culture adopted by SBG has played a major role in the success of the firm. Internal Factor Evaluation (IFE) is used to inspect the strengths and weaknesses of the organization.
In this paper, the author is going to review the Sinclair Broadcasting Group in relation to diversity management. To this end, the author will analyze the different types of diversity, organizational structure, as well as multiplicity, and strategic choices. In addition, the paper will address the issue of code of ethics, strategic examination of plans, and employee relations, and change.
Types of Diversity
People have embraced diversity, given that it is associated with a number of benefits. However, it is not easy to understand and use this concept, especially given that the advantages and disadvantages associated with it vary from one organization to the other. Before a decision to embrace diversity is made, one has to figure out the possible impacts of such a move (Sinclair, 2009).
It is important to note that some societies find it hard to adopt diversity. For example, people from some cultures prefer to socialize only with individuals of their race or family. As such, their children are not exposed to the diverse nature of the world (Russell, 2004). Knight (2004) supports the sentiments voiced by Russell. According to Knight (2004), considering the dynamics of the global community today, it becomes hard for individuals who lack diversity to blend in with the outer society. They have a limited view of the world and may offend the culture of other people without knowing (Sinclair, 2009).
According to Russell (2004), diversity can be grouped into three main categories. The three include gender, age, and cultural variations. Other types of diversity that are not commonly discussed entail those based on physical and psychological disabilities, sexual orientation, political views, and family situations (Balint, 2010). With regard to gender, women have been shown to improve the financial performance of a firm. In a gender-balanced workplace, men may work hard to impress their female counterparts. On the other hand, women may improve their performance to sustain their appeal to their male colleagues (Swaine, 2010).
In relation to age, it is noted that internship programs encourage the participation of young persons in the workforce. As the population advances in age, the number of old workers increases. Women have a tendency to re-enter the workplace in their middle age (Swaine, 2010). When applying cultural diversity, employees try to uphold the ties of the organization to national and cultural heritage. To this end, the number of immigrants and African-American persons joining the US workforce has grown by about 20 percent in the recent past (Swaine, 2010).
Challenges Associated with Diversification Policies
A number of companies have tried to embrace diversity but have failed. The major reason for this is the challenges associated with this concept. One of these problems entails availability. A critical analysis of past experiences reveals that some employers have been unable to control diversity, given that the number of potential employees is more than the opportunities available for them (Balint, 2010). However, in some instances, employers find it hard to access employees with the right qualifications. In such instances, employers have to be flexible when recruiting new talent (Knight, 2004).
Another challenge associated with diversity is made apparent when dissolving the structure of an organization. A competent and visionary management team should be put in place to oversee the diversification programs (Swaine, 2010). The team should ensure that diversity is achieved at every level of the organization. Experts believe that diversity facilitates specialization. Sinclair (2009) argues that different people offer varied approaches to problems. As a result, this concept energizes and enlivens problem-solving endeavors.
The Importance of Organizational Structure and Diversity in the Telecommunications Industry
Many companies in the telecommunications sector believe strongly in diversity. One way of improving organizational performance entails bringing together people from different backgrounds. Such individuals form a strong multicultural workforce that is needed to drive the objectives of the entity. Diversity involves striking gender balance at the workplace, removing barriers associated with ethnicity or sex, and giving equal opportunities to everyone (Napoli & Yan, 2007). Achieving this form of diversity is not easy. The managerial staff is charged with the responsibility of making sure that this happens. Every level in the organization is required to reflect diversity. A number of firms have failed to embrace the diversification theory. Some of them have created confusion in efforts to attain this objective. However, the Sinclair group has somehow achieved this goal, especially with regards to the television stations owned by the firm.
Most companies assume a hierarchical organizational structure. To this end, different departments are headed by managers. At the bottom of the ladder are the employees. However, in spite of their location at the far end of the hierarchy, it is important to note that the workforce is one of the most valued assets in the firm. SBG advocates for equal treatment of workers in efforts to maximize their output. A functional organizational structure should define the allocation of tasks to different stakeholders in the firm. To this end, the functionality of the model should be based on the laid out company objectives (Daniels, 2008).
Diversity and Strategic Choices at Sinclair Group
Every company intending to prosper should put in place a working strategy (Daniels, 2008). The strategies are aimed at improving the returns made on investments. Selecting and applying the appropriate measures leads to prosperity. Sinclair has formulated a number of strategic plans in the past. The policies have helped to steer the company to its current level of success. SBG takes the welfare of the employees very seriously. It is this focus on the workforce that led to the formulation of a plan, ensuring that the working environment is appealing to existing and potential employees. In addition, enticements to boost the morale of members of staff have been put in place. The strategic plans ensure that the workforce is fully motivated. The company is the major beneficiary of these efforts. Improved performance and success of SBG is sufficient proof of the effectiveness of this move.
Another strategy entails embracing diversity. An example of this is the increase in the number of women in the organization. Special recruitment programs have been put in place to ensure that the number of female employees working for the firm rises. Daniels (2008) holds that women have a positive impact on the financial performance of a given firm.
A diverse workforce ensures efficient service delivery to a diverse market. What this means is that SBG is able to reach out to a wide network of consumers. People from different backgrounds feel safe working at SBG, especially in television stations (Cooper, 2006). Individuals may be different, but the fact that one has their unique areas of specification promotes unity and understanding.
Most business organizations are out to make profits. The workers play a major role in achieving this goal. The management team plays a critical role by ensuring that the rules governing the workplace are adhered to. As such, SBG should make sure that the workplace encourages participation from all employees (Sinclair, 2009).
Coming up with a strategic plan is not hard. However, implementing the policies is a tasking undertaking. The managerial board of a company is responsible for this. A company with corrupt leadership has fewer chances of succeeding compared to an entity with transparent managers. The personal interests of corrupt leaders come before the goals of the company. Ethical standards are important in defining rules and regulations in an entity. The disciplinary actions to be taken in case of violation of the code of conduct are clearly spelled out in the document (Cooper, 2006). That is why strategic management is regarded as an art. It is an answer to most issues arising in the firm. SBG has competent managerial staff. The team evaluates various ideas and selects those that benefit the company. What this means is that every business needs to reestablish its goals and put in place a capable and visionary management team. The formulation of appropriate strategic plans makes it possible to achieve this.
The ability to retain talent is an important indicator of success, especially in the telecommunications industry. A lot of resources are used in training new recruits. As such, it is only reasonable to preserve the talent. Creating a comfortable working environment helps to achieve the goal. SBG is regarded as the founder of television (Barrett, 2005). Other companies are following the footsteps of this firm. Employees keep this in mind when working at SBG. In addition, the portrayal is appealing to graduates seeking employment in the sector. Everyone wants to be associated with the best. Employees are encouraged to discuss their career developments with their managers and supervisors. As a result, they are able to grow their talent.
Code of Ethics Governing Sinclair Group
For a company to flourish and retain its position at the top, it has to be governed by a strict code of ethics. Every individual working at SBG has to comply with the laid down rules and regulations regardless of their position at the company. The code sets out the duties and responsibilities of managers and workers. Ethical issues are handled in accordance with the policy, something that improves honesty and responsibility at the firm. Any suggestions to improve the code are always welcome. In case of violations, the responsible individual is disciplined accordingly. The disciplinary action does not discriminate against anyone. A point to note is that the document does not assure continued employment at the entity. In addition, it does not add any rights to the managerial staff (Sinclair, 2009). The code touches on conflict of interests, corporate opportunities, compliance with rules and regulations, and financial reporting. In addition, it deals with issues to do with compliance procedures, changes, and waivers.
As a policy, conflict of interest indicates that no member of the managerial staff is supposed to engage in any form of activity that may go against the goals of the company. For example, some employees may take advantage of their position in the firm to promote colleagues who are family members. Sinclair (2009) is of the view that loyalty to the employer comes first.
With regard to corporate opportunities, no one is allowed to exploit the firm for its own benefit. Again, using ones position to promote personal gains is prohibited. The CEO and Vice President must first acquire authorization from the board before pursuing any opportunity arising in the firm. Employees, officers, and directors are expected to comply with the law. Such laws include those involving antitrust, intellectual property, anti-corruption, and lobbying (Sinclair, 2009).
All transactions involving the firms assets must be reported. The requirement is known as financial reporting. Every record is supposed to describe the transaction without any omissions or falsification of information. When one learns of instances of failure to comply with this rule, they are expected to report to the general manager. It is the duty of every employee at SBG to maintain the confidentiality of non-public information. In relation to compliance procedures, all individuals are supposed to report any form of violation of the law, conflicts of interest, and corporate opportunities. A corporation disclosure committee has been set up to deal with such cases (Sinclair, 2009).
Changes are evident in every aspect of life. In case one is not content with waivers arising at SBG, they are encouraged to raise the issue with the general council. Changes can only be made by the audit committee following NASDAQ regulations. As such, it is important for every employee or officer to uphold ethical standards (Cooper, 2006).
Strategic Examination of Plans at Sinclair
It is important for the management to examine the strengths and weaknesses of their company. One of the strategies used to do this is the Internal Factor Evaluation (IFE). On the other hand, External Factor Evaluation (EFE) is used to rate the organization based on external threats. The threats include competitors, economic factors, and cultural issues (Napoli & Yan, 2007). A major weakness at Sinclair is the fact that it is hard to find new salespeople. With regards to strengths, the morale of employees in the sales department is high.
Quantitative Strategic Planning Matrix (QSPM) is used to evaluate alternative strategies. After the identification of optional policies, QSPM is used to determine the strategy that is most appropriate. In doing so, the company is able to create an atmosphere that is appealing to both existing and potential employees. In addition, momentum is maintained, and performance is improved (Sinclair, 2009).
Sinclair Group: Employee Relations and Change
According to Schultz (2002), a motivated workforce is beneficial to the organization. At SBG, a number of incentives are put in place to make sure that the employees are comfortable. The move also helps the firm in retaining talent. The management is expected to come up with ideas to make SBG the best place to work in. The health and wellbeing of the employees come first (Barrett, 2005). There are a number of programs to cater to this. For example, individuals who have worked in the firm for more than 75 days are eligible for most of the social benefits. Health and dental insurance covers, long and short term disability benefits, vacations, leaves, and attractive retirement sendoffs are some of the benefits put in place for the workers. In addition, all employees are dealt with equally in case of violation of rules and regulations (Schultz, 2002).
Positive change is embraced in any business. At SBG, transformation characterizes the development of the company (Napoli & Yan, 2007). Stagnation reduces the chances of success. The market changes every now and then. The organization must keep up with these developments. An example of this is the migration from analog to digital TV (Schultz, 2002). A company that is not ready to embrace change may be elbowed out of the market by competitors.
Conclusion
Sinclair Broadcasting Group started as sole proprietorship business. It was founded by Julian Sinclair in 1971. The entrepreneur was succeeded by his sons after a number of years. SBG has embraced diversity, a move that improved its performance in the market. A visionary management team has been put in place. Employees are treated fairly to sustain motivation and maximize output. They are encouraged to discuss their career goals with supervisors. A code of ethics helps in running the organization. Individuals who violate the regulations are dealt with appropriately regardless of their status. Before the CEO makes a decision, they have to consult with the board of governors. Functional strategic plans have been put in place by the managerial staff. The implementation of these policies is important to the firm. It is the job of the manager to oversee the activities of the employees.
References
Balint, P. (2010). Avoiding an intolerant society: Why respect of difference may not be the best approach. Educational Philosophy and Theory, 42(1), 129-141.
Barrett, M. (2005). The FCCs media ownership rules and the implications for the network-affiliate relation. Journal of Media Economics, 18(1), 1-19.
Cooper, M. (2006). The case against media consolidation. New York: Donald McGannon Communication Research Center.
Daniels, G. (2008). A centralcasting postmortem and a news-share projection: Using market theory to assess alternative local television news strategies. Electronic News, 2(3), 10-15.
Knight, C. (2004). Liberal multiculturalism reconsidered. Politics, 24(3), 189-197.
Napoli, P., & Yan, M. (2007). Media ownership regulations and local news programming on broadcast television: An empirical analysis. Journal of Broadcasting & Electronic Media, 51(1), 39-57.
Russell, D. (2004). The liberal Archipelago: A theory of diversity and freedom. Australasian Journal of Philosophy, 82(3), 538-540.
Schultz, B. (2002). Predicting the effect of digital conversion on US television stations. Web.
Sinclair, J. (2009). Minorities, media, marketing and marginalization. Global Media and Communication, 5(2), 177-196.
Swaine, L. (2010). Heteronomous citizenship: Civic virtue and the chains of autonomy. Educational Philosophy and Theory, 42(1), 73-93.
Weiderman, G. (2009). The watchdog role of newspapers: Newspaper coverage of Sinclair Broadcastings announcement to air a one-sided documentary right before the 2004 presidential election. Web.
Yoo, C. (2005). Architectural censorship and the FCC. Web.
All sports organizations must have effective media relations and consumer interactions. Sport-related media actions are carried out to reach the public and convey messages from the media or the sports organization. Transferring knowledge, skills, attitudes, and information all depend heavily on communication. Sports enthusiasts may now watch various sporting events or keep up with their favorite teams and athletes on various media channels. Moreover, the way people watch sports has significantly changed thanks to modern technology, which has even given rise to new platforms. As such, broadcast sports coverage has been transformed by improvements in communications technology, allowing billions of people all over the world to experience the grandeur and thrill of major athletic events, which is also achieved by subscription services. Both broadcast and subscription provide benefits to the consumer but, as argued in the paper, subscription services will continue to proliferate due to their profitability, which promises future growth to this model.
Broadcasting and Subscription Model Differences
In general, sports may be viewed on broadcasting channels that are available for free. Sports broadcasting is the practice of disseminating news and information about athletic events through the mass media, primarily television but also radio and the internet (Bergantiños and Moreno-Ternero, 2020). Broadcast networks use public airwaves to convey their encoding. Therefore, any home with a TV within a transmitter’s range can access these channels for free. Traditionally, public service broadcasting has been at the core of democratic regimes since it has been crucial in preserving a pluralist society and addressing its cultural and social requirements (Walsh, n.d.). Public broadcasting has the power to both enhance people’s personal lives and raise the standard of living in society thanks to its broad audience and sway.
The business model of broadcasts includes selling commercial spaces to sponsors to generate money. The interaction between sports, television and other media notably supports those connected to broadcasting companies. Moreover, television and media companies pay large sums of money for the exclusive right to broadcast major sporting events to live (Walsh, n.d.). As a result, the broadcasters can invest in the costly administrative and technological infrastructure necessary to broadcast sporting events to millions of fans worldwide via the royalties they receive from selling their exclusive material to other media sources.
However, in order to compete in the new technology-enabled broadcast environment, sports organizations’ networks had to modify their business strategies. Broadcast networks have lost significant amounts of advertising income as the value of television ads has decreased in line with the emergence of other sports-watching channels. Nowadays, the majority of football is now only accessible through a sports subscription provider (Walsh, n.d.). Businesses use a subscription-based business model and license their material to Netflix, Hulu, or other streaming services for a run of games, contests, or seasons (Walsh, n.d.). Recent content agreements between networks and companies like Netflix have increased the latter’s income and the former’s content quality. As the name suggests, cable TV is television that is delivered to homes through coaxial cables or, more recently, fiber-optic cables (Walsh, n.d.). Customers of cable channels must pay a subscription fee to access their programming. Advertisers still have plenty of possibilities to reach their high-value groups through commercial advertising, even though cable TV does not nearly have the reach of broadcast.
Growth of Subscription Services Popularity
Traditional pay-TV providers compete intensely for exclusive rights to high-profile sporting events. As fixed broadband markets mature, bundled offerings increase in popularity, and ultra-fast broadband networks are deployed, telecom operators are also considering these rights (Bergantiños and Moreno-Ternero, 2020). In order to increase the proportion of connected homes on newly constructed super-fast broadband networks, operators cannot overlook the growing importance of content in consumers’ decision-making for package purchases. Pay-TV providers have traditionally offered exclusive movie material and live sports transmission. The latter has been preyed upon by over-the-top media services more frequently because of Netflix (Lindholm, 2019). The three key factors contributing to over-the-top media services popularity are their wide selection which is always accessible, low prices, and straightforward user interfaces. As a result, there is pressure on pay-TV companies’ value offer for their filmed entertainment programming.
The other emerging trend in the sports industry concerns the customers’ benefits related to subscription services. As mentioned earlier, the providers of subscriptions continue to multiply due to the higher revenue promised by this model. As discussed in Butler and Massey’s (2019) study, the monopoly in subscription channels might result in more games but a lower average viewership and advertising income per game than the competitive free-to-air broadcast equilibrium price. Hence, if there were a monopoly firm, it would try to increase revenue through fees from new subscribers and income from advertising from audiences who would not otherwise be watching subscription channels (Butler and Massey, 2019). Therefore, competitiveness in the subscription channel industry should benefit customers. Fortunately, the market for sports subscriptions providing is competitive. Thus, the increasing amount of pay-TV with sports subscription might be more popular due to the advantages it gives to consumers.
Moreover, a significant shift in recent years has been technological advancement that enables large-scale video streaming via the internet. This includes, in particular, infrastructure development to give high-speed internet access to a broader segment of the world’s population, which is enabled through a subscription model (Lindholm, 2019). The online streaming explosion has had a swift and dramatic influence on how people consume sports. For a long time, television networks have leveraged exclusive live sports broadcasting to compete for viewers’ attention and membership costs. However, more recently, these channels have used such broadcasts to keep their viewers’ attention while trying to compete with online actors such as Netflix (Lindholm, 2019). They took advantage of the fact that live broadcasts of sporting events are not entirely translatable in the eyes of consumers for other types of video entertainment.
The described developments raised the prospect of a subscription model in sports broadcasting by transferring the traditional model. Moreover, the trend of subscription-based systems aids in the resolution of some of the legal difficulties that have arisen as a result of technological advancement. For example, the same technological advancement that allows television rights holders to easily live stream athletic events also allows for unlawful pirate streaming. However, subscription-based music streaming services, such as Spotify, have helped to minimize online music piracy (Lindholm, 2019). Therefore, subscription-based sports subscription services may have a similar impact.
Sports streaming services provide a lot of advantageous features, making them significantly superior to television networks for live sporting events streaming. Streaming services provide a variety of eye-catching incentives to their members. Sports streaming expands the scope of sports. A sport that previously had a smaller audience immediately becomes accessible to worldwide audiences without boundaries. Anyone, using any appropriate device, may watch a sport in its live streaming format from anywhere. Another significant advantage of sports streaming is the real-time involvement of fans who share similar ideals and feelings. It adds to the expansion of a sport, the players and teams engaged, and the sport continues to obtain new grounds that were not previously known to exist. Moreover, sponsorship and paid commercials are used to make live-streaming content feasible. A sponsor may earn greater exposure by targeting the appropriate customers at the right moment. Finally, subscribers may watch their favorite sports from any location. They may select from a variety of options to enhance their sports viewing experience. They can terminate their membership at any moment and, if necessary, renew it later.
The future of sports media, as a result, is moving toward the increasing popularity of subscription services. The shift away from free-to-air sports coverage could be impossible to reverse. One-time pay-per-view sporting events and sports channel subscription packages are two of the most lucrative income sources currently available in sports broadcasting. As a result, pay-TV providers are moving their purchasing power toward premium sports, making it more challenging for Free-to-Air broadcasters to hold onto such live sports rights. The television business, particularly the sports broadcasting section, has had to adjust to the reality that the public is increasingly obtaining video entertainment online rather than through television stations.
Conclusion
To conclude, sports media are gradually growing to include more subscription services. The rise of their popularity could be explained by the higher revenue of the providers and better customer benefits resulting from the competition between the marketers in the industry. In the future, sports broadcasting will most likely be replaced by subscription-based online streaming services due to the technological advances, customer satisfaction, and legal protection they provide.
The funding of the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) is an issue that has created ideological divides between proponents and opponents. Proponents argue that PBS provides safe entertainment and education for children and cutting funding would be unethical. On the other hand, opponents argue that PBS has a business model that provides sufficient revenue to sustain its operations without government funding and there are more deserving entities that could benefit more from the funding.
PBS has a business model that includes membership plans that translate to revenue, which could be used to operate the corporation. America has a very large debt deficit that will continue to increase with such funding (Gonzalez, 2012). For instance, in the 2013 federal budget, PBS received $300 million. Government funding accounts for a paltry 12 percent of the corporation’s revenues, which means that their revenues can support their operations (Toby, 2013). Their membership plans include subscriptions from individuals, organizations, and foundations. Opponents also argue that federal grants encourage biased journalism that favors the government (LaMonte, 2011).
It is unethical for an independent organization to receive funding from entities that it is supposed to keep in check. Obama wanted to increase funding for PBS, and in 2014 proposed an increase of $6 million. In 2012, Mitt Romney argued against the continued funding of PBS by stating that it was unethical to keep borrowing money from China to fund such projects (Toby, 2013). Cutting government subsidy would be one of his strategies for reducing the federal government’s debt deficit. Opponents argue that PBS funding should be cut in favor of more important government functions such as healthcare and spending (Strain, 2012). Health programs such as Medicare need more funding, which should come from cutting government spending in areas such as PBS subsidy.
Proponents of PBS continued funding argue that cutting the funding would threaten the stability of the corporation as well as 900 radio stations across the US (Toby, 2013). In that regard, the quality of broadcasting would decrease, and the quality of local, national, and international reporting would dwindle. It is imperative to consider that PBS and other government-backed stations provide programming that other corporations avoid. They also argue that cutting the subsidy would not make any significant difference in America’s federal deficit because taxpayers pay $1.35 annually to support the funding (Toby, 2013). They also argue that cutting the funding will undermine and curtail the role that public media contribute toward enhancing education, engaged citizenry, and public safety. The services that PBS provides to the public provide good enough reasons for their continued funding from the government.
The funding that PBS receives supports arts and creative education, which promote the common good (Jacobs, 2012). Other broadcasters provide little or no coverage for arts and creative education. Government funding is an indication that America is committed to promoting arts, culture, and education (Toby, 2013). To cut the funding would be an indication of the government’s failure to perform its central function of connecting citizens to resources that promote arts and culture. Finally, the federal backing that PBS receives improves its perception among Americans as a safe source of entertainment and education for children (Jacobs, 2012). Moreover, the removal of government funding will affect its reputation and the funding it receives from private organizations. In approximately 66 percent of European countries, funding for national broadcasters comes from license fees or indirect charges (Masters, 2014).
In conclusion, the issue of government funding of PBS is a controversial issue. Opponents argue that the only could be sued o funds more important areas such as health and security. Proponents argue that the funding is the government’s commitment to supporting arts, culture, and education. It is necessary for both sides to hold knowledgeable discussions and come up with a solution that represents the will of Americans.
The major appellant was Cox Broadcasting, which broadcasted the name of a rape victim in the news report. The second appellant was the reporter who retrieved the victim’s name from the publicly available indictments. The appellee was the rape victim’s father, Cohn. The appellee claimed that it is unlawful to broadcast the name of the rape victim, and perceived the mention of his daughter’s name in the news report as a violation of privacy.
In he pursues, he relied on a Georgia statute. In response to the appellee’s allegations, the appellants referred to the First and the Fourteenth Amendments which state the protection of free-press. The trial court rejected the appellants’ claims and held that the Georgia statute provides civil protection to those whose rights to privacy are violated.
On appeal, the Supreme Court held that the trial court made an error in the interpretation of the Georgia statute and declared that the First and the Fourteenth Amendments require no legal judgment for the appellants. During the process of rehearing, the appellants claimed that broadcasting of the victim’s name was of public interest and they believed they could report it with impunity. However, the Supreme Court resolved the contention because the statute is a legal limitation on the First Amendment.
Procedures
In 1972, Cohn filed a claim for the reimbursement of moral damage against Cox Broadcasting relying on Code Ann. § 26-9901 (1972) (Supreme Court of The United States par. 3). The Court of Appeal decided that the violation of the appellee’s right for privacy was misinterpreted by the trial court and required Cohn to provide the proof for the invasion of his privacy zone. The Court referred to the First and the Fourteenth Amendments’ statement, which was also brought in Briscoe v. Reader’s Digest Assn., Inc., 4 Cal. 3d 529, 541, 483 P. 2d 34, 42 (1971), that the right to freedom of the press does not cancel the right to individual privacy, and the agreement between the press and private persons may be attained without excess disturbance (Supreme Court of The United States par. 3).
Legal Issue
Did the Georgia statute which protected the rights to privacy violate the freedom of publications protected by the First and the Fourteenth Amendments?
Holding
Although the trial court decided in favor of the appellee, the Supreme Court decided in favor of the appellants. The holding was supported by the claim that the Georgia statute violated the freedom of the press by prohibiting Cox Broadcasting to use the information which was legally obtained. The Federal Court has jurisdiction over the case under 28 U. S. C. § 1257 (2). Pp. 476-487 (Supreme Court of The United States par. 2).
According to the final decision, the state court cannot impose limitations on the publications of rape victim names retrieved from the publicly available official sources. In this way, the Court held that crimes, prosecutions, and judicial proceedings are matters of public interest, and it is the responsibility of the press to report about the state of affairs in the country. Moreover, it was stated that the interest of privacy dims in case the broadcasted information included in the official court documents is already freely accessible.
Rationale
The Supreme Court considered that the Georgia statute violated the Constitution. The Court regarded the right for privacy important yet, in the case, freedom of the press became the priority. When the informational agencies and mass media publish information which is obtained according to the law, without fraud, deception, or intended violation of rules, the publication is regarded as rightful.
Moreover, when a case is a public matter, the fact of privacy becomes insignificant as the information involved in the case and legal procedures are already registered in public documents. Based on this, mass media may minimize the usage of victims’ names in their reports to show respect to those exposed to victimization, as well as their close ones, but they have all rights to broadcast the names and other personal data retrieved from open official sources.
Significance
The First Amendment states that the government cannot adopt a law that would infringe on the freedom of the press. The Court’s ruling on the rightfulness of the legal acquisition of accurate information by mass media has tremendous importance and emphasizes the superiority of the federal law.
The protection under the First Amendment thus extends on the publications about multiple public and governmental affairs, and the principle implemented in the Court on the case Cox Broadcasting Corp. v. Cohn, 1975 – the deprivation of local statute’s legal basis due to its constitutional invalidity – was also used in several other cases: Landmark Communications v. Virginia, 435 U.S. 829 (1978) – disclosure of information about the hearings on misconduct; or Smith v. Daily Mail Publishing Co., 443 U.S 97, (1979) – publication of teenage offenders’ names.
The federal issue was also decided in Miami Herald Publishing Co. v. Tornillo, 418 U.S. 241 (1974), when, in terms of the First Amendment, the State government was forbidden to dictate mass media the content of publications.
Concurring
Mr. White delivered the opinion of the Court. Mr. Chief Justice Burger and Mr. Justice Powell filed the concurring opinions on the Court’s interpretation of the First Amendment in the case. They agreed on the holding and the majority of the supporting rationale. However, Mr. Justice Powell expressed some concerns about the Court’s perception of truth as a defense in defamation actions issued by the private persons.
The commonly accepted standards for the identification of “defamatory falsehood” caused to private citizens, and liabilities for the adverse impacts on individuals made by the publishers should be developed (Supreme Court of The United States par. 6). It is suggested that truthfulness of the published statements, and not the reliability and availability of informational sources, should be considered the criteria of the complete defense from the brought actions and violation of privacy. Thus, the establishment of such criteria may ensure the protection of both sides.
Dissenting
Mr. Justice Rehnquist filed a dissenting opinion on the Court’s decision because it did not seem sufficiently conclusive. It is argued that the jurisdiction was exercised without particular reasons through the discovery of “new exceptions to the finality requirement” (Supreme Court of The United States par. 7). The dissenting side considers that the Court did not express sufficient explanations for its interference with the local judicial functions.
Decision
While delivering the final decision of the Court, Mr. Justice White claimed that broadcasting of the public information is very important for the country because it helps to raise awareness and lets people make their judgments on US affairs. As the case demonstrates, in the 20th century, the Court endowed the text of the First Amendment with new meanings to support mass media’s rights to fulfill their mission. However, some limitations in freedom of the press still exist, and the questions about the extent of the freedom of future mass media remain open.
Works Cited
Supreme Court of The United States. Cox Broadcasting Corp. v. Cohn, 2009. Web.
Hugh Hardage, the plaintiff in Hardage v. CBS Broadcasting, Inc, worked as a supervisor for CBS Broadcasting in Seattle. The defendants were CBS Broadcasting and Kathy Sparks, the station’s general manager working in Tacoma. Hardage accused Sparks of sexual harassment and claimed that the company failed to take appropriate steps against Sparks. In the district court, Judge Wallace ruled that CBS Broadcasting was entitled to a plea of an affirmative defense, rendering insubstantial all accusations raised by Hardage. The judge argued that the company took prompt and reasonable steps to address the matter as stipulated in the Civil Rights Act and the Washington Law Against Discrimination (WLAD). Additionally, Hardage unreasonably failed to take advantage of the assistance provided by the company. The court held that Hardage contacted Dean, the general sales manager, who later contacted Falcone, an HR representative. The actions taken by the managers were considered prompt and reasonable in addressing the sexual harassment claims. However, Hardage did not take reasonable advantage of the assistance when he failed to disclose the specific sexual harassment incidences to his superiors. Instead of using the company’s legal structures, he decided to solve the problem anonymously.
Procedural History
The case against CBS Broadcasting and Kathy Sparks was presented to the district court, which issued the company with an affirmative defense to liability. After the ruling in the district court, the plaintiff pursued the matter to the Court of Appeal. The Court of Appeal sustained the decision of the district court and affirmed that CBS Broadcasting was entitled to an affirmative defense to liability.
Key Issues
Hardage argued that his superior, Kathy Sparks, sexually harassed him. He blamed CBS Broadcasting for not taking relevant measures to address the situation and engaging in a tangible employment action that forced him to resign. Hardage blamed the company for issuing an adverse performance memorandum instead of addressing sexual harassment concerns raised against Kathy Sparks. The court relied on two case requirements. The first requirement was to prove whether the company took timely and logical steps to address the issue. The second was meant to evaluate whether Hardage unreasonably disregarded assistance offered by the company.
Legal Holding
The court considered the steps taken by Dean and Falcone to have been rational and timely. Dean responded immediately by notifying Falcone. Falcone contacted Hardage and offered to pursue the matter, but Hardage opted to “personally solve the issues.” However, the unresponsive personality of Hardage and his request to pursue the matter anonymously proved that the plaintiff unreasonably disregarded the assistance offered by the company. Additionally, he did not disclose sexual harassment details when he reported the issue to Dean and Falcone.
Rationale
The court argued that CBS did not adopt any tangible employment action against the plaintiff. Similarly, it considered that the steps taken by Dean and Falcone were realistic and timely. Finally, it maintained that Hardage unreasonably failed to take advantage of the assistance issued by CBS. The court blamed Hardage for failing to adhere to the company’s anti-sexual harassment policy.
Judgment
The Court of Appeal affirmed the decision of the district court that had ruled that CBS Broadcasting had an affirmative defense to liability. The decision exonerated CBS Broadcasting and Kathy Sparks from any legal, corporate, and civil liability. The court did not note a connection between Hardage’s performance and sexual harassment claims. It was affirmed that the plaintiff was constructively discharged, and the company was not liable for his reinstatement.
According to Section eighteen of the 1960 Broadcasting Authority Act, it is the agency’s responsibility to ensure that when information and movies are publicized that correspond to a public uproar or are the focus of consistent public discussion, the films and information are provided impartially and independently, without any affirmation of the authority’s viewpoints. Moreover, nothing in this clause precludes authorities from broadcasting political party announcements. This clause was passed in 1960, thereby putting an end to media and cinema control. The censorship limited the films that were being broadcast according to the government orders. The government was headed by the then-current president, de Valera.
History of Journalism Before Censorship
Ireland received its independence in 1922 from the colonization of Great Britain. In 1923, William Thomas Cosgrave, who was Irish, became the first president of Ireland (O’Brien, 2017). During the same year, censorship of films in Ireland was introduced. The Irish Catholic church was very influential during that time and had been very sensitive in maintaining public morality (Magan, 2020). The roman catholic dogma prohibited homosexuality, abortion, blasphemous and pornographic contents. Films were censored in Ireland due to World War 2 sensitivity which was between the years 1939 and 1945, and had affected Ireland and the countries with great power. A film that was produced in 1942 called Casablanca was banned. It was prohibited because it became sexually sensitive to the roman catholic dogma (Magan, 2020).
In Ireland, the major radio station that broadcasted using short waves and was a means of broadcasting was the Radio Eéreann. RN was used in broadcast in Ireland during the World War 2 period. Its broadcasts were restricted during the war because it increased national tensions (Magan, 2020). The radio had become a means of communication of the opposing party, and it aided in the spread of the war because they used the radio waves.
Unlicensed agencies in Ireland started forming radio stations in Ireland which caused radio waves to increase. The increase in radio broadcasting interfered with national military communications during the war. This was another factor that caused radio broadcasting to be censored because it threatened the security of the citizens. Censorship of politically sensitive information in Ireland was made during the political instability era. This was because people were influenced by the contents of the broadcasting platforms and would lead to rapid and increased social insecurity (Magan, 2020). People are also known to mimic behaviors, and the government restricted the broadcasting platforms because the people were influenced greatly by the effects of the war and the political instability. The films and information aired would increase the tensions in the country.
Benefits of End of Censorship
In 1960, it marked the end of film censorship in Ireland by the government. On January 13th, 1960, the broadcasting authority bill formed an authority to the television service. The broadcasting authority is responsible for the licensing of radio and televisions in Ireland. They approved that the films had been approved and there would be a normal display of media after the country had been dominated by the roman catholic dogma. On January 17th, the bill was approved in the senate (Magan, 2020). Furthermore, during a dinner party to celebrate the ending of censorship, the then-President de Valera stated that television may be used for immeasurable good but could also bring irreversible damage.
The authority was formed with the purpose of providing national broadcasts without holding back any essential information from the citizens. It also promoted and extended national telegraphy, and this was seen when there was a rise in the number of broadcasting stations and radio stations in the 60s and the 70s (Cox, 2021). the authority was also responsible for the licensing of the national radios and televisions. Licencing helped the authority to ensure that the information that was broadcasted was credible and that no part was taken when broadcasting the news that influenced the national perspectives.
After the authorization of the broadcasting centers, there was good delivery of the messages to the people through the media because they were given full information after the world war had ended. The cost of broadcasting became cheaper because the government had included the authority in the licensing and funding of the broadcasting stations. Information was no longer limited to time because the news was broadcast without censoring any information (Cox, 2021). There was fast and adequate delivery of news to the people and citizens of Ireland.
The information that concerned the national peace was able to be delivered to the people to date with ease. Entertainment is also provided to the people of Ireland without criticism by the roman catholic church that was so focused on the moral conduct of the people. The media is used now as a major platform to get the attention of the citizens to matters that concern national safety or national politics. After the end of censorship, people are able to find freedom because they can find access to all the information that they need without any exclusion and are free to obtain any data that they need in the 70s (Cox, 2021). There is fast delivery of news because people can obtain information from a variety of sources and have the decision to choose the information that they believe.
People get educated through the information that is broadcast. There are many educational resources for children and people who are studying that can be obtained on broadcasting platforms. With unlimited access to the internet and televisions, people cannot jump to conclusions and perceive other ideas of reality because the information that they obtain is reliable and true. Religion is not misused by religious places because the authority cannot be limited to any of the agencies. Religious people are given equal platforms with those who are atheists, and people are given an equal level of transparency because of the rapidly evolving technology (Magan, 2020). The broadcasting stations cannot conflict the human rights because everyone has a right to freedom, and they get all the information needed.
With adequate and free information delivery to the people, there is reduced tension in cases of political instability or in national insecurity. This is because people can know where the threat is more imminent and can flee to safety. The political outcomes are more conducive and fairer because the people can know the progress of the political events and the outcomes without being there physically. The government is also less prone to having rivalries in matters concerning media and broadcast because the people get all the information without any restrictions. They find the freedom to obtain any information that they need.
Conclusion
Section 18 of the broadcasting act 1960 has benefited Ireland and has seen peaceful and elaborate national and political leadership. It has contributed majorly to the peace and freedom in Ireland. People are now able to access information and films without any restrictions. People have enjoyed the freedom of the media and the information obtained. The authority has bettered and empowered the power of broadcast media.
Reference List
Cox, V., 2021. Independence memories: A people’s portrait of the early days of the Irish nation. Dublin: Hachette Ireland.
Magan, M., 2020. Thirty-two words for field: Lost words of the Irish landscape, Dublin: Gill Books.
O’Brien, M., 2017. The Fourth Estate: Journalism in Twentieth-Century Ireland. Manchester: Manchester University Press
Television schedules are developed to factor time from daily perspectives to the season-long organization. Many changes have occurred over the history of television operations and programming. Television programming began with some outdated methods of programming until the formation of today’s broadcast automation was developed (1). This paper will look at the main forms of programming in history up to the current approaches of scheduling. Programming has changed from analogue to digital such that television programs can be used to create a new show, maintain the same audience and remain competitive in the industry (2).
In the first five decades of television, powerful institutions controlled programming and more content relayed in this media. Therefore, institutions that wanted large audiences, for example, the National Commercial Organization in the United States, programmed the broad ranges of programs available to the audience. Scheduling required large amounts of money, and it relied mostly on finances provided by advertisers (3).
The government bureaucracies and the cultural guardians also controlled programming in various aspects. Television programming did not have much room to grow since it had to follow certain prescribed procedure and regulations within the industry. For example, the government programs could be allowed to air at different times of the day and the material aired was strictly regulated contrary to the currently observed freedom of the media.
In the past decade, programming has grown to a digital system with limited government control of the content. The centralized method of controlling television schedule changed, and new institutions came in to provide a different economic, technological and organizational framework (4). Since the decentralization of television programming, there has been differentiation and more innovation in this field.
The changes in programming suggest that television schedules in the past decades focused more on the extensive and continuous airing of limited information (5). The current forms of programming explain that scheduling is not static, but changes over time. Television programming changed from living programs to design programs whereby agencies could design, budget, and sponsor programs to meet the market needs (6).
Block Programming
This form of programming involves a combination of particular shows that will attract the attention of the audience for a specified time of the day. For example, in television stations of the United States, the Saturday mornings are cartoon shows targeting children. On Sunday evenings, the stations are male-oriented sports targeting a male audience. Between 1984 and 1987, National Broadcasting Cooperation had a favourite series line up aired on a Thursday evening. Block programming can be seen on the televisions, especially for cable networks. This form of programming has been used to expand an audience by providing program reruns with the aim of ensuring customer loyalty (7).
Counter-programming involves providing an attractive alternative show in order to try to get the audience from a competitor. The Colombia Broadcasting System has used this form of programming to air a show that is attractive to women in order to counter for the Monday night football that focuses on men (8). Hammocking is a form of programming where an unpopular show is aired on two popular shows.
The scheduling of this kind takes in mind the belief that those viewers will not change the channel because an unfamiliar show has come up. Hammocking has been used to increase the rating of the new show when it appears between two established programs. Leads-in and leads-out is a strategy just like hammocking, whereby a show tries to be successful through association with others. In Leeds-inside, a popular program is lined before a less established program. Leads-out involves lining a popular program after a less popular show. (9)
Bridging involves putting a long-format show so that the audience will lose interest and abandon it for a competitive show. Ridge poling involves distributing successful shows on different nights of a week so that they can act as lead-ins or lead-outs. However, television states have done away with the combination of these strategies after successfully developing a block or a few programs. Stunting is a form of programming that is used to nurture viewership for a few weeks. (10) A stunt is designed to be attractive and gain the attention of the viewers, a popular star is made to appear on another show to get the attention of the viewers on the show.
The stunt mostly involves creating suspense through delaying a show for a few weeks. Through the stunts, a program is stealing the audience of the competitor’s show because the interest is raised. These changes in scheduling strategies have enabled televisions to keep up with the changes in technological advancement. Scheduling has, therefore, been made easier and also attracted more viewers.
Conclusion
All these strategies have been developed over time as technology advanced throughout the history of television. The television industry has also gained more freedom of operation, hence speeding up the rate at which programming is developing. Some of these strategies can be used interchangeably and to compliment the changes in the digital form of programming. It is evident in the world that 2015 is being the deadline for digital migration.
References
Ulin, J. (2013). The business of media distribution: Monetizing film, TV and video content in an online world. London: Taylor & Francis.
Waterman, D., Sherman, R., &Ji, S. W. (2012). The economics of online television: Revenue models, aggregation, and TV Everywhere’. Aggregation, and’TVEverywhere’. Web.
MacFarland, D. (2013). Future radio programming strategies: Cultivating listenership in the digital age. London: Routledge.
Baccarne, B., Evens, T., &Schuurman, D. (2013). The Television Struggle: An Assessment of Over-The-Top Television Evolutions in a Cable Dominant Market. Communications and Strategies, 92(4), 43-61.
Nunn, H. (2013). Reality TV: Realism and revelation. New York: Columbia University Press.
Bonacchi, C., Furneaux, C., & Pett, D. (2012). ‘Public engagement through online TV channels: a way forward for the audiovisual communication of archaeology’ in C. Bonacchi (Ed). Archaeology and Digital Communication: Towards Strategies of Public Engagement. (pp. 50-65). London: Archetype.
Rutherford, L., & Brown, A. (2012). The Australian Broadcasting Corporation’s multiplatform projects: Industrial logics of children’s content provision in the digital television era. Convergence: The International Journal of Research into New Media Technologies, 19(2), 201-221.
Chalaby, J. K. (2012). Producing TV content in a globalized intellectual property market: the emergence of the international production model. Journal of Media Business Studies, 9(3), 19-39.
Ji, S. W., & Waterman, D. (2015). 2. Vertical ownership, technology and programming content. in R G Picard and S S Wildman (Eds.) Handbook on the Economics of the Media, (pp. 36-53). Edward Elgar Publishing. Web.
Jaw, Y. L., Chen, C. L., & Chen, S. (2012). Managing innovation in the creative industries–A cultural production innovation perspective. Innovation, 14 (2), 256-275.
The process of commercialization of media, such as radio and television, as well as national broadcasting in general, began with the template derived from the United States. It should be noted that American influence around the globe is massive when it comes to communications and media. Therefore, the emergent states’ eagerness to seek separateness needs to be supported, which is not being done at the moment.
In Chapter 7, Schiller on how the international commercialization of broadcasting unfolded and impacted a wide range of international communities. For example, the author states, “in Western Europe, the most stable non-commercial broadcasting structures of sovereign states are unable to resist the forces that are arrayed against them” (Schiller 145). In other words, the force of such commercialization cannot be overlooked. For instance, Schiller also states that “the quest in the emergent nations for separateness is not, as some may believe, a reflection of immaturity” (Schiller 163). The primary reason is the fact that they need such isolation in order to achieve global solidarity, where global equalization is beneficial for everyone. Therefore, one can agree that the author describes a modern version of imperialism, where one powerful nation imposes its ideals, values, and interests on other ones. In the past, it was done by the brute force of superior military, but modern technology enabled a more intricate form of imperialism through media.
In conclusion, the process of commercialization of international broadcasting began with America, and the latter was the prime beneficiary of such change.
Work Cited
Schiller, Herbert I. Mass Communications and American Empire. Westview Press, 1992.