At last: A fourth network livened the TV world
(This is the latest chapter of a book-in-progress, “Television, and How It Got That Way.” For previous chapters, in chronological order, scroll under “News and Quick Comments.”)
The TV landscape had become littered with fallen fourth networks.
There had been failures by big media companies – Paramount (often), Mutual, Metromedia, more — and by a TV manufacturer and a warehouse mogul. Then, surprisingly, Fox made it work. It would eventually give us “The Simpsons”(shown here), “American Idol,” “The X-Files,” “24” and more.
It made mistakes; people usually do, especially in television. But it also had three key things – persistence, originality and an open checkbook.
Especially that checkbook. Read more…
