Chapter 8 - Television

Paul Nipkow invented the first device to transmit images. After that John Baird added to it so it would be able to send images long distance. In the 1920's, Vladimir Zworykin and Philo Farnsworth contributed by developing an electronic scanning technology which allowed for the public to receive television by 1939. In the 1950's it was reported that quiz shows would fix the outcome due to advertisers and producers wanting a specific winner. This lead to spot commercial sales, instead of selling blocks of time, an advertisement agency would have to buy a 60-second spot to enhance the diversity. Because of an actress named Lucille Ball, and her demands as to how she wanted her show I Love Lucy to be produced, film reruns were possible, the television industry moved to Hollywood, and weekly series could now be produced. McCarthyism also changed the television industry. With the Red Scare (being afraid of communists) Senator Joseph McCarthy was telling a lot of lies but then got caught. This incident was the first time people saw how television can be their eyes and ears. Cable was then discovered in 1948, which allowed for more channels to be transmitted. With the advancement of technology, things such as VCR and DVD and the Internet make it possible to have interactive television.