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The Beginning of TV
Content Writer
The Beginning of TV

Archaic Stage Before there was vision, there was sound. It may sound strange, but the birth of TV didn’t start with an actual television. To understand how those shiny, thin screens transformed from the massive sets they used to be way back when we’ll look into a little over a hundred years ago in 1874. The young German, K.F. Braun, invented the crystal rectifier. The device was to aid in radio transmissions, making the transmitting process easier by allowing currents to flow in one, smooth direction. This increased the range of Guglielmo Marconi's one-way transmitter, and both scientists continued studying the physics behind electric transmission. This led to Braun inventing what is known as the first cathode-ray tube. I know, based on the technical wording of it, this tube doesn’t sound all that thrilling, but Braun’s invention produced visible patterns that were graphical representations of electrical signals. This was essentially the world’s first scanning device! New Radio, Who Dis? It was Christmas Eve in 1906, and radio operators on ships in the Atlantic were shocked to hear a human voice… Read more

Is Cord Cutting a Myth?

While media streamers and other online-based television have the spotlight, some say this could be the end of satellite and cable TV— The end of the cords, but is it really possible to “cut the cord”? One of the first (and maybe most important) indicators of whether satellite and cable TV will continue to thrive is the global impact. According to analyst firm IHS Markit’s Ben Keen, the U.S. has the largest gap between consumers subscribing to broadband and an OTT service and then packages from a pay TV operator. This gap shows that consumers in the U.S. have about $35 to use on other OTT services that don’t include their broadband and Netflix subscriptions. Those in the U.S. have a lot more wiggle room to purchase an add-on to make up for what they’re missing in TV, such as Sling TV and HBO NOW. When looking at other countries though, there is little to nearly no gap between broadband and Netflix and then a multiple system operator’s (MSO) triple play, meaning it makes no financial sense for consumers in… Read more

Campertainment: Lets Get the Show On the Road!

Setting up services for your home is fairly easy, as your home stays in one place, but if you like long trips on the road, or have converted your home to a van or RV, then it may be a bit more difficult to get TV. When it comes to getting shows on the road, viewers typically ask: How do I get TV service? Will I be able to watch my favorite shows? Can I get HDTV? The answer to most of those is fairly simple and a relative yes. Here are a few tips to keep up with your digital entertainment while away from the house. Satellite Satellite dishes can be mounted on to the RV itself, while portable satellite units sit on the ground outside of the vehicle whenever you stop. As a fee-based service, you’ll need to contract it for yourself, but keep in mind that getting local network channels isn’t really an option if you’re traveling outside of what’s considered your local service area. Another possible downside is the process of setting up your RV for… Read more

How TV Networks Are Reading Your Mind

Thumbs Up, Thumbs Down The first tactic people are most aware of is each viewers’ ability to ‘favorite’ or ‘like’ a TV series or movie. A few current working improvements Hulu is making to their recommendation system includes an equivalent to a “thumbs down” button— a ‘Stop Suggesting’ feature. After countless requests from viewers, the ‘Stop Suggesting” feature lets customers permanently switch off a recommendation for a show that isn’t relevant. Once live, the feature will have its own button, near the “Add to My Stuff” option, so it will be easy to find. Ever worried someone will find your guilty pleasure? Don’t stress about it! Hulu says viewers will soon be able to remove items from the Watch History. Whether you share a Hulu account or have frequent visitors over for game night, you don’t have to worry about anyone finding your shows, or messing up your recommendations. You’ll also be able to mark content as  ‘watched’ if you happen to watch the show through another streaming service. Release Tactics I think it’s safe to say hardly anyone gets… Read more

For the College Student: Budgeting Cheap TV

Discover Free TV Online or through an Antenna The internet seems to be becoming the universal system for all things, including watching television. If Netflix isn’t enough, and you need to stay up-to-date on all of your current shows, look no further! Many large networks offer direct streaming from their websites of recent episodes, a few being: NBC CBS Fox ABC Most of the networks’ websites require you to sit through some ads, just like regular cable. If the ads are too much though, a lot of these companies offer a small subscription fee to see a wider variety of episodes without the ads. The most archaic form of free TV may be the antenna, but don’t worry, it isn’t a massive satellite taking up most of your living room. Most are actually small, stylish and easy to use, great for even the tightest of dorm rooms. Channel lineups depend on location, but ABC, NBC, CBS, and a lot of other channels are typically accessible. Bundle Your Music If you’re a student enrolled at a US Title IV accredited college… Read more