Check The Guide by Carolyn Gregory

While considering television programming, it can be argued many of our `choices` of programs become limited as station vie for revenue and number of viewers. The mass (viewers) determine the programming for all. Television is a market to advertise and sell. While considering television, primetime television is defined based on the availability of viewers watching television during that time. This also determines the cultural experience for viewers at these times. The author of The Centrality of Media Economics, Douglas Gomery, states that one media industry is focused on but in reality there are many businesses competing for customers in these programs and advertisements. The competition for these programs is based on the number of viewers and time of their viewing and therefore creates an increased value of these timeslots. As a result the advertising companies placing ads between and during these programs can be charged more by the network. Because of the value of these times, networks air programming based on viewers irrespective of the quality of programming or moral implications (for example Family Guy, The Simpsons, or reality television) that is being distributed. The viewership of these programs also determines the times and availability of these programs at specified times. The different timeslots create competition between clients from the television programs and advertisers that are fighting for the same time within the networks slots. Television is an advertisement-supported media; therefore the client chooses the advertisements rather than the viewer. Within these programs and advertisements, culture is greatly affected. The product placement impacts things we buy, how we act, or how other places or people are portrayed and perceived. These products can result in a culture shift or change of different areas in different people. Trends are also greatly affected by the television that networks choose to be viewed at certain times. During primetime, the most viewers are watching, and a lot of reality television is being shown. These reality shows can change the ways people dress, the language used, and even the perceptions of other places and people. Although not perfect, Canada has created via the CRTC, the CBC network. This requires Canadian content and allows for a better diversity of programming. What the population wants to see shows a good example of the majority influencing the minority based on the viewership numbers and revenue that will be received by the network.