Why TV Is Not Our Fault: Television Programming, Viewers, and Who's Really in Control

In Why TV Is Not Our Fault, Eileen Meehan effectively explodes the notion that television ratings represent accurate measures of the number of audience members who exercise their demands for specific programming in a free, competitive market. This cogent and incisive book offers a historically contextualized, unassailable argument that corporate―and not audience―interest is what counts in television programming. It is distinctive in exposing that ‘audience measurements’ are shaped by advertisers’ and network and cable owners’ shared demand for consumers that meet the appropriate upscale demographics. The book is a myth-busting, political-economic analysis of the confluence of television programming and the selling of consumers to advertisers through ratings. It is long overdue and essential reading for students and scholars interested in television studies, and―more broadly―the political economy of communication. I only regret that Why TV Is Not Our Fault cannot be made required reading for all television viewers. — Lisa M. McLaughlin, Miami University; editor, Feminist Media Studies

In this carefully crafted book, Meehan contends that the audience cannot be blamed for the poor, and declining, level of television programming. Instead, as she posits in five closely argued chapters, one should blame the interconnected elements of highly successful commercial business. . . . Recommended. ― CHOICE

A carefully crafted argument that we as the audience are not to be blamed for the poor and declining level of programming. Instead, as Meehan posits in five closely argued chapters, we should blame the interconnected elements of a highly successful commercial business. . . . This surely does suggest some different ways of looking at ‘accepted’ facts. ― Communication Booknotes Quarterly

This is a really great, concise, and clearly written book. Meehan’s insights are highly accessible―wish I’d had time to read this with an eye toward adopting in fall 2006! — Douglas L. Battema, Western New England College

Meehan’s timely book finally lays bare the facts about who controls television programming and how and why they do what they do. It once and for all puts to rest the claim that television executives simply ‘give people what they want.’ This is a serious and sophisticated scholarly book; Meehan carefully analyzes the economics and sociology of the industry to reach her conclusions. But she does so in an accessible way, without hiding behind jargon or intellectual obfuscation. Policymakers, industry professionals, and concerned citizens should all read this book―and will be glad they did. — Thomas Streeter, University of Vermont

Brilliant, readable, and highly teachable. — Kate Kane, Northeastern Illinois University