Методические указания для студентов специальности "Журналистика" (английский язык). Палагина С.С - 27 стр.

        9.3 Text. What’s on US TV?

        On the average, American viewers watch TV four hours a day, usually tuned to
  one of the national commercial networks: ABC,NBC,CBC, or Fox Broadcasting
  Company. These stations attract about 98 percent of TV audiences. During a sixty-
  minute TV program, you can expect to see about twelve minutes of commercials.
        The commercial networks broadcast a variety of shows: news, drama, soap
  operas, comedy, sports, music, movies, children’s programs, game shows, and talk
  shows. There is a lot of competition for viewers, especially during prime time, from 7
  to 11 p.m.. Ratings, published in the newspapers, measure the audiences for top ten
  programs.
        PBS (Public Broadcasting Service), supported by government and private
  funding is the only noncommercial network. It broadcasts more serious drama,
  performing arts, science, public-affairs documentaries, and educational children’s
  programs. Sesame Street, the most popular children’s show on PBS, appears on TV
  stations all over the world. All five networks broadcast twenty-four hours a day.
        Some viewers pay to receive a wider selection of programs on cable television.
  There are up to 500 cable stations. Two well-known ones are HBO (Home Box
  Office), which shows movies, and CNN, which specializes in news.

     Network Prime-time Ratings
Program                       Network   Type of program      Date and time            Household
1 Seinfeld                    ABC       Sitcom               Thursday at 9:00 p.m.    22,390,000
2 60 Minutes                  CBC       TV news magazine     Sunday at 7:00 p.m.      19,550,000
3 E.R.                        NBC       Hospital drama       Thursday at 10:00 p.m.   19,120,000
4 NFL Monday Night Football   ABC       Live football game   Monday at 9:00 p.m.      18,520,000
5 Friends                     NBC       Sitcom               Thursday at 8:00 p.m.    17,970,000

        9.3.1 Make sure you know the verbs in these sentences:

        The BBC World Service broadcasts throughout the world.
        I can receive/pick up broadcasts from Moscow on my radio.
        They're showing a good film tonight.
        Ratings measure the audiences for top ten programmes.
        The film was shot/made on location in Spain.
        They cut/censored the film before showing it on TV.

        9.3.2 Fill in the gaps in the sentences below with the most appropriate words

       1. He doesn't even get up from the sofa to change channels, he just presses … on
  the … .
       2. Although our … was expensive, we've taken some priceless film of our
  children.
       3. Children often prefer looking at … to reading books.

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