Abstract: | The US television networks, so long the dominant force in US broadcasting, have seen their market shares and profits begin to fall as the new telecommunication services increase their penetration rates and fractionalize the viewing audience. In response to this competitive challenge, the networks have increased their offerings of news, bid high prices to retain the rights to professional sports, and decreased their reliance on theatrical movies. More importantly, the networks have themselves expanded into the new technologies in a number of different areas. |