Die in englisch verfasste Arbeit gibt einen Überblick über die Anfänge des Fernsehens in den 50er Jahren in den Niederlanden und in Deutschland und zieht anhand von demographischen, politischen, gesellschaftlichen, soziologischen und technischen Aspekten einen Vergleich, um die Frage zu beantworten, was die frühe Entwicklung des Fernsehens maßgeblich bestimmt hat. Zusätzlich sind viele zeitgenössische einmalige Quellen enthalten.
Table of Contents
1. Introduction
1.1. Approach
1.2. A description of the audience in the 1950's
1.3. Description of the mass medium
2. A short prehistory of television in Germany and the Netherlands
2.1. The same idea at different locations
2.2. The development of the electric apparatus
2.3. First public demonstrations in Germany
2.4. The emergence of German television
2.5. Programming until 1945 in Germany
2.6. No distribution of television
2.7. Television test in the Netherlands
2.8. Conclusions
3. The 1950's in the Netherlands
3.1. The post-war period in the Netherlands
3.2. The pillarisation
3.3. Introducing television to an audience
3.3.1. The test program of Philips in Eindhoven
3.3.2. Missing concepts for a new medium
3.3.3. The NTS - a Dutch democratic principle
3.3.4. Conclusion to Introducing television to an audience
3.4. The medium as a social institution
3.4.1. Television among other Luxus
3.4.2. Cinema and radio as rivals
3.4.3. The political perspective
3.4.4. The commercial perspective
3.4.5. Conclusion to the medium as a social institution
3.5. Looking for the audience
3.5.1. The ideal of a future audience
3.5.2. The media audience in the 1950's
3.5.3. Programming in the 1950's
3.5.4. The people in front of the camera
3.5.5. Television critics
3.5.6. Reactions of the audience
3.5.7. Research on the audience
3.5.8. Conclusions to looking for the audience
3.6. Conclusion
4. West German television in the 1950's
4.1. The post-war period in Germany
4.2. Federalism
4.3. Introducing television to an audience
4.3.1. The test program of the NWDR in Hamburg
4.3.2. Missing concepts for a new medium
4.3.3. ARD
4.3.4. Conclusions to Introducing television to an audience
4.4. The medium as a social institution
4.4.1. Television among other luxuries
4.4.2. Other media as rivals
4.4.3. The political perspective
4.4.4. The commercial perspective
4.4.5. Conclusion to the medium as a social institution
4.5. Looking for the audience
4.5.1. The ideal of a future audience
4.5.2. The media audience in the 1950's
4.5.3. Programming in the 1950's
4.5.4. The people in front of the camera
4.5.5. Television critics
4.5.6. Reactions of the audience
4.5.7. Research on the audience
4.5.8. Conclusions to looking for the audience
4.6. Conclusion
Research Goals and Themes
The work examines the development of television as a mass medium in the Netherlands and West Germany during the 1950s, aiming to determine whether the medium evolved differently in these two countries based on national context and pre-existing international models.
- The role and influence of the television audience in the medium's initial development.
- The impact of institutional frameworks, such as the Dutch "pillarisation" and West German federalism, on broadcasting.
- A comparative analysis of the introduction of television in both nations.
- The transition of television from an elitist, experimental technology to a fully established mass medium.
Excerpt from the Book
3.5.4. The people in front of the camera
Every television station had its own announcers, which were all female in the 1950's. The announcers had the task to introduce the single programs and to represent the station and the program. But they also had to improvise a lot, because of the lack of technical experience in the beginning and other failures the program was interrupted quite often. During this time they had to appear as normal as possible.
Therefore it can be argued that the presenters had one of the most important jobs in early television. In order to fulfil their task of representation they had to be beautiful, intelligent and needed a good voice. Some people called this ideal of a woman an illusion.
"Wat ze hebben willen, is geen echt mens, maar een illusie, heb ik deze week in Bussum een paar maal gedacht. Een illusie van: intelligentie, schoonheid, aantrekkelikheid, beschaving, talenkennis, stem. Te zamen en in vereniging vormende "persoonlijkheid" (maar niet te veel). De illusie heet televisie-omroepster."
Due to this reason they even got star status in the 1950's and the 1960's, because they were the only people on television that were seen regularly. They were also associated with a certain image of the program of the station. This is exactly the same what television critics of that time felt. One of them, Henk Schaafsma, called them 'the most charming personification of the pillarisation'. The announcers had a different self-confidence. They accepted the star status but they wanted to remain as normal as they were before. One of the announcers said:
"Kijk, ik leid een dubbel leven: huismoeder en TV-omroepster. Dat vind ik prettig, maar het huiselijke leven blijft punt één."
Summary of Chapters
1. Introduction: Outlines the research approach, defines the scope of the audience in the 1950s, and characterizes television as a mass medium within a historical context.
2. A short prehistory of television in Germany and the Netherlands: Reviews the early technical evolution, initial public demonstrations, and the specific limitations that prevented television from becoming a mass medium before 1945.
3. The 1950's in the Netherlands: Examines the socio-political context of the Netherlands, specifically how the "pillarisation" system shaped the introduction and organization of television broadcasting.
4. West German television in the 1950's: Details the post-war reconstruction of broadcasting under Allied influence, the adoption of federalism, and the rise of the ARD as a national coordination body.
Keywords
Television history, 1950s, Netherlands, West Germany, broadcasting systems, mass medium, audience research, pillarisation, federalism, programming, Eurovision, technology, social institution.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core subject of this research?
The work provides a comparative history of the emergence of television as a mass medium in the Netherlands and West Germany during the 1950s, focusing on the social and political dynamics that shaped it.
What are the primary themes discussed?
The book analyzes the interplay between institutional structures, industrial policy, the influence of the audience, the impact of international models, and the role of programming in the medium's development.
What is the main objective or research question?
The main question is whether television developed differently in the Netherlands and Germany, and specifically, to what extent it was influenced by existing examples from the United States or Great Britain.
Which scientific methods are applied?
The author uses a comparative historical methodology, drawing on secondary sources, archival materials from broadcasting organizations, and contemporary newspapers and magazines from the 1950s.
What topics are covered in the main body?
The text covers the early pre-war history, the post-war reconstruction, the introduction of television to the public, the social role of the medium, programming strategies, and the evolving relationship with the audience.
Which keywords characterize the work?
Key terms include 1950s television history, Dutch pillarisation, West German federalism, the role of the audience, and the impact of the Eurovision network.
How did the concept of the audience evolve during the 1950s?
The audience initially served as an "infantile pupil" that broadcasters were uncertain how to address, but by the end of the decade, it had matured into a critical body whose preferences were measured through early statistical surveys.
What role did Eurovision play in this period?
Eurovision acted as a crucial catalyst for international cooperation, enabling cross-border viewing and forcing domestic broadcasters to improve program quality through international benchmarking.
- Quote paper
- International Master of Arts Dirk Schmelz (Author), 1995, A European affair - a comparison of 1950's Dutch and German television, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/13767
