Radio and tv in the usa
Mass media (that is the press, television and radio) play an important part in the life of society. They inform, educate and entertain people. And first of all mass media shape public opinion.
Millions of Americans in their spare time watch TV and read newspapers. The daily paper dominates family life at breakfast, TV dominates the life of the family most of the time. It is a habit-forming drug impossible to resist. The radio is turned on most of the time, creating a permanent background noise.
On
the radio one can hear music, plays, news, and various commentary and
discussions called forums. At a forum several authorities exchange
views on social, economic and political problems, as well as on books
of common interest. A number of sides are represented so that the
listeners can hear various opinions. Such broadcasts
(радиопередачи,
радиовещание)
are popular with the listeners.
Various
radio and TV games, such as a panel
game
(радиовикторина)
on the radio and a quiz
program
(телевикторина)
on television, also attract a large audience
.
During a radio panel game the listeners send questions to the studio
to be answered by the members of the panel, who compete
for the best results. During TV quiz programs the questions are
answered by the viewers.
Then
there is a daily TV serial known as a soap opera. It is a sentimental
drama featuring
(показывающая)
domestic
(семейный)
problems of a group of people. Some people find it boring, others
consider
(рассматривают)
it
to be good entertainment and relaxation.
There
is a lot of advertising
on American TV and radio. Most of the TV and radio stations are owned
by big corporations. The owners advertise whatever they choose. They
sell TV and radio time to commercial firms which buy it to advertise
their goods. So most of the TV and radio time is taken up by
advertisements. Commercial firms sponsor
shows and programs that make people buy their goods. For instance, toattend
(принять
участие)
a
show or to take part in a quiz program you have to send to the studio
the required
(требуемое)
number of empty cartons
(упаковка),
boxes
or wrappings
(оберток)
(depending on what product the sponsoring firm is selling).
People are attracted by such programs not only because they provide
entertainment. A valuable prize is usually promised for the
correct answer to the main question. The sponsoring firm makes a
great profit on such programs. The more people attend the show, the
greater is the profit of the firm.
Advertising
promotes
(содействует)
business and benefits
(приносит
выгоду)
businessmen but often annoys
(раздражает)
the
general public. According to some critics the immense
(огромные)
cultural
possibilities of American mass media are used mainly for the purpose
(цель)
of selling people more things that they really need. Freedom of
speech, as some critics declare, allows great commercial firms to
pull the rest of the people down to their own intellectual level.
But it is hardly (едва ли) fair (честно) to say that American media do not try to raise the cultural level of the people or to develop their artistic taste. Many of the TV programs are excellent, they are made in good taste and with great professional skill. Radio and television bring into millions of homes not only entertainment and news but also cultural and educational programs. Radio stations broadcast about ten thousand hours of musical programs weekly. Many programs are made up almost entirely (всецело) of classical music.
There is a lot of education both on television and radio. For instance, you can take a TV course in history, political economy, management, banking and in many other subjects, or learn a foreign language by TV and radio. Educational TV films and programs are shown at schools and colleges as part of the curriculum.
The
opinion that all commercial programs are of little artistic
value
(непрофессиональны)
can also be disputed
(оспаривать).