| In the US, the average American bought their first | | | | in shows such as All in the Family. By the 90's, shows |
| TV set and began to experience television | | | | with African Americans in lead roles and in positions |
| entertainment via antennae in the 1950's. Cable | | | | of authority were becoming established. Bill Cosby as |
| followed soon thereafter for those in rural areas who | | | | the successful obstetrician and ideal father was |
| had no reception and gradually expanded over the | | | | married to a successful lawyer, Felicia Rashad while |
| next 40 years. Comedies, westerns, and later variety | | | | Oprah Winfrey acted, directed, and began to take |
| and spy shows filled the airwaves. Shows in the | | | | over the world of talk shows. The types of |
| 1950's were mostly conservative, representing an | | | | programming had changed over the years as well. |
| ideal average American family which was "nuclear", | | | | Dramas, investigative news programs, sports, and |
| complete with mom, dad, and the kids. An occasional | | | | reality based shows were gaining popularity.A major |
| minority had a supporting role and the lifestyles were | | | | step in diversification was the emergence of niche |
| generally middle class with a stay-at-home mom. | | | | programming. From MTV directed toward the |
| This ideal-based programming is part of the charm | | | | younger, male audience, to ESPN, Fox Sports for |
| of 1950's television for many people.In the 1960's, this | | | | men, and Lifetime cable network for women (just to |
| began to change as representation of African | | | | name a few) the trend to recognize a wider audience |
| Americans began to increase and roles became more | | | | was marching forward. Today, the representation of |
| substantive; Bill Cosby's starring role in I Spy being | | | | many minority groups on American television remains |
| one example. Women's presence in TV also increased | | | | small for the population and representation of all |
| and started to stray away from the typical | | | | groups remains somewhat inaccurate or restricted |
| housewife. By the 60's and 70's, women had far | | | | but strides continue. Channels specific to the gay |
| more leading roles such as in Bewitched and I Dream | | | | lesbian population and to Asian Americans are |
| of Jeannie. The Mary Tyler Moore show was an | | | | examples that demonstrate recognition of our |
| example of the emergence of the single, capable, | | | | diverse population.With satellite, television has been |
| working woman as an acceptable figure on television. | | | | able to branch out and become even more global |
| In the 70's and 80's, social issues and different | | | | however. Dish Network, as an example, now offers |
| lifestyles began to penetrate television programming. | | | | 110 International Channels in over 25 languages. |
| Divorce and single motherhood was presented in | | | | African, Arabic, South Asian, and Russian |
| shows such as One Day at a Time. Women, and | | | | programming are just a few examples. They also |
| occasionally minorities, began to be shown in positions | | | | offer Latino packages and a Great Wall package |
| of power. Issues such as homosexuality and abortion | | | | directed toward the Chinese market. Increasingly, |
| began to be discussed. From Cagney and Lacey to | | | | satellites allow us to listen in to radio and television |
| Murphy Brown, some women began to have a | | | | programming from around the world allowing |
| purpose beyond their beauty. Even age barriers | | | | television to continue it's evolution as a diversified and |
| began to fall as shows such as The Golden Girls | | | | global media. |
| became popular. Inter-racial issues were more evident | | | | |