Investigates the effects of various programing strategies, commonly employed by the television networks, on program popularity for children. Strategies include counterprograming by type, block programing by type, inheritance effects, starting time, program familiarity, and character familiarity. Confirms the effects of starting time and program…

Analyzes changes in the popularity (ratings) of television programs over the duration of the television viewing season among fourth, sixth, and eighth graders. Results indicate that ratings are quite stable and increase as the season goes on, especially among younger viewers. (Author/JJD)

Regression analysis shows that ratings for television movies can be explained both in terms of variables that accounted for the films' success in the theatrical marketplace and in terms of the pattern of scheduling by the networks. (GT)

This study tests the hypothesis that discrepant information will receive greater exposure and will reach the desired audience when presented within the context of a news/documentary television program (task-oriented programming) instead of televised entertainment (non-task-oriented programming). After 134 college students completed a scale that…

The first year evaluation of "Sesame Street" reported that children learned more of what the program taught if they watched more frequently (see ED 047 823). This follow-up study in the second year of the program concentrated on disadvantaged children. It showed that children who viewed the program most frequently were younger and more…

Examines the television networks' new bargaining strategy of network bidding for feature films before their theatrical release. Contrasts the markets for regularly scheduled programing and theatrical movies to show that the change in strategy is a logical extension of the networks' tightly controlled market for regular series programing. (JMF)

Studies the relationship between children's perceptions of the news and learning, and the effect of televised news story context on their perceptions. Explores the effect of news story context on learning through perceptual variables: liking the story, liking the program, believing the story, and understanding the function of the story. (JMF)

Over 2,000 15-16 year old adolescents from central Scotland were surveyed to determine characteristics of high- vs. low-frequency television viewers. Personality characteristics, attitudes toward school and sports, and socioeconomic status were related to viewing habits. Sex of the viewer was found to be related to choice of programs. (GDC)

The value of "cultivation analysis" as a theoretical and analytic framework for investigating the effects of television has been questioned. This study suggests that of the viewing/reality variables, the most important is perceived law enforcement program realism, a variable generally excluded from cultivation analysis studies. (PD)

A second year of experimental research on young children examined the instructional power of television in facilitating the acquisition of cognitive skills. In addition, researchers investigated the efficiency of an instructional support system designed to maximize the results of educational television. Subjects were three- to five-year-old Native…

Describes a study that was conducted to investigate the influence of age, sex, social class, and religion on total television viewing time and program preferences among a large sample of Scottish secondary school students. Four main program types are examined, i.e., soap, sport, light entertainment, and current awareness. (50 references) (LRW)