In today's television programming, several programming formats and themes are available to viewers. Traditional genres such as news, soap operas, situation comedies, and dramas have been supplemented by an assortment of talk shows, cable programming, made for television movies, sports programming, and a host of other subjects. The primary objective of each program is to provide entertainment or information.

The structure of news programming has advanced significantly over time. Satellite technology has allowed news coverage to reach virtually everywhere in the world in real time. This has brought extraordinary events and information direct to viewer's homes from the area of the planet n

---. "Rating Wars." Time December 23, 1996: http://pathfinder.com/@@CuAywAQAlm...bestof1996/nation.rating_ wars.html

Other programs such as the Mary Tyler Moore Show and Rhoda portrayed women as strong, independent contributors to society working in higher level job roles. The Carroll Burnett Show, while a comedy sketch program, proved a female could hold a comedy based prime time rating slot position and succeed. These programs paved the way for programs such as Cagney & Lacey, and more recently, Ellen. The latter program has attempted to bring programming content to another level by implying throughout the season that the lead character may reveal herself to be gay. Without the strong foundation built by previous programs featuring female leads, the producers of Ellen may have considered addressing the theme of homosexuality even more of a risk.

A multitude of programming on television is classified as entertainment programming. Many programs have proved influential in addressing and advancing societal issues. All In The Family provides an example of a program that turned America's conscious tide. Viewers were introduced to controversial issues via entertainment programming. Topical barriers within society and the television industry were broken. Sensitive subject matter such as race and sexual preference entered homes during prime time, thus entering mainstream society put together within an accepted, humorous program vehicle.

Talk shows also positively influence their audience through special topic programs. Oprah Winfrey recently developed a monthly segment promoting reading by featuring authors and previewing new books on the market. The move may not increase market share, but follows Oprah's philosophy of moving toward "more responsible programming."

Information provided by television news is often the most current available, allowing consumers to maintain perspective of where different aspects of society, of importance to them, are heading. For example, when John Salvi assaulted two abo

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