Over a half-century after its introduction into the mainstream, television has become a multibillion dollar industry. Through its evolution of programming and the continual buildup of advertising it has stretched to limits unheard of during its earliest years. Few if any could have predicted the meteoric rise that television experienced throughout its inclusion into worldwide culture.
It was in the early part of the 20th century that the number of televisions throughout America could be numbered in the thousands. In modern times that number has escalated to millions worldwide. More than that, many televisions are left on for at least seven hours or more a day. This exposure has helped television to change and evolve in response to the viewers that have continually demanded more in the way of quality programming.
While early television was quite primitive by today's standards, it took relatively little time for networks to advance their scope and adopt new and innovative standards. This allowed people to watch several different channels, thereby enhancing the experience and the demand for even more progress. From that point on the television became a way of life for many Americans, and entered a stage in its evolution from which prosperity was the only direction to follow.
Advertisements eventually became the manner by which television continued its rise to fame, as nearly everything that was shown on television became the trendy and popular thing to buy. This trend has continued into the modern day as well, when advertisements have become a major point of revenue for any television network. In some cases ads are the chief reason that the general public has any knowledge of the world around them.
Advertisements are also how the public knows what and when to watch regarding their favorite programs. Tucked into commercials that air consistently during breaks in whatever show, movie, or other program the viewer watches, ads are designed to generate interest in new shows or to inform viewers when favorite shows will be returning for a new season. From action-packed thrillers to daytime dramas, viewers rely heavily upon advertisements. This allows them to know when those programs they consider important are showing. In turn this allows them to fulfill that need to keep up with new episodes and catch up with old ones.
People have become dependent upon television. It has been integrated as a part of daily life, and as such has garnered a source of revenue that has steadily risen throughout the years. As people buy more televisions per year, subscriptions to cable companies and other various networks, they continue to feed into the ever-growing machine that is media.
It's estimated that the television industry is worth just a little over $70 billion, and is projected to rise to a net worth of over $80 billion in the years to come. It's very easy to believe these projections as the continual development of television and its programming continues with each new show and successful quarter. As has already been stated, people are dependent on and even invested in their televisions. This in turn only continues the cycle that was begun in the early part of the 20th century. It also assures that the television industry will never go broke or out of style.