Rating: 
Summary: On the whole, I was disappointed.
Review: I was looking for an introductory book on the business of television. This book assumes that you know a few things already. It explains beginners concepts but it doesn't go out of its way to clearly explain them. I didn't understand the relationship between affiliates and networks. This book claims to explain it clearly, but it doesn't. Right now I don't even know where the affiliates get their money from. I was a bit disappointed because the other reviews showed promise, and the title too.The best words to describe it are, as used above, a 'resource', a 'comprehensive' and 'practical' guide. The book really doesn't go out of its way to explain concepts to you. If you are looking for an introduction to the business of television, this is probably not the best place to start.
Rating:
Summary: On the whole, I was disappointed.
Review: I was looking for an introductory book on the business of television. This book assumes that you know a few things already. It explains beginners concepts but it doesn't go out of its way to clearly explain them. I didn't understand the relationship between affiliates and networks. This book claims to explain it clearly, but it doesn't. Right now I don't even know where the affiliates get their money from. I was a bit disappointed because the other reviews showed promise, and the title too. The best words to describe it are, as used above, a 'resource', a 'comprehensive' and 'practical' guide. The book really doesn't go out of its way to explain concepts to you. If you are looking for an introduction to the business of television, this is probably not the best place to start.
Rating: 
Summary: HOPE YOU FIND THE BOOK HELPFUL...
Review: Like many TV producers, I needed a single book that would answer my questions about unions, distribution, the workings of the home video business, the FCC, and about a million other topics. My lawyer knew lots of things that I didn1t know, so we decided to research and write the book together. We wrote the book so it could be easily used and understood by anyone-- and it has been used successfully by TV executives, producers, performers, distributors, agents. It has turned out to be an important book, and we hope you find it helpful
Rating: 
Summary: This book is gold!
Review: Our start-up entertainment company has used the first edition as our essential reference book. We have not found anything else like it. We are excited about ordering the second edition.
Rating:
Summary: Synopsis of Second Edition
Review: The essential refernene for anyone working in the television or video industries. This Business of Television is a comprehensive guide to the inner workings of the business. The book has 50 chapters and includes three useful appendixes: legal documents and forms; concise boilerplate contract forms for the most common business transactions in television; and a list of useful industry contacts and addresses. The legal documents and the ready-to-use contract forms are included on the enclosed disc, so they can be easily accessed for home use. Part 1 covers distribution--networks and local stations, syndication, public television, cable systems and services, video formats, pay television and new technologies such as satellite delivery and high-definition television. Parts 2 and 3 explain FCC and federal regulations, as well as legal concepts such as copyright, the right to privacy, libel and slander, and protection of society. Part 4 discusses program production and financ! ing, with separate chapters on production aspects such as location, post-production, scenic design, and music. Part 5 examines audience measurement and advertising; Part 6 explains contract basics, legal entitites, and tax issues in the television business; and Part 7 offers an overview of the television industries in countries around the wworld. All of the chapters have been revised and completely updated in this second edition. There are also brand new chapters on religious television, home shopping, satellite TV and the ever more important international marketplace. Broad in scope and rich in detail, This Business of Television is an invaluable sourcebook for producers, writers, broadcasters, network executives and other television professionals--and an an easy-to-read how-to manual for beginners in the field.
Rating:
Summary: Solid and comprehensive.
Review: The first edition was handy, detailed, and filled with suggestions on where to find further information. I'm glad the revised edition includes a disk. Highly recommended for anyone in the television, video, or CD-ROM production business. And not a bad price, considering the cost of other texts.
Rating: 
Summary: suprisingly disappointing!
Review: This book is not as informative as you think. It rambles on about every person in America should know. Any person with common sense could figure these stats, facts, etc. found in this book. It was a waste of my time and money.
Rating:
Summary: Stolen 3 times... This book is hot!!!
Review: This book is so hot that it's been stolen from my office library 3 times. I'm on my 4th purchase of this book. I felt like I could have an intellegent conversation about any aspect of the television business after using this book. It is my main resource for getting quick answers that are easy to understand. This is required reading for those getting started and a great resource for those that have been in the industry a while. It also includes a computer disk containing forms such as U.S. Copyright registration and others found in the book that you can import to your word processor. Ron Hebert
Producer
2002 Emmy Awards - Pacific Southwest Chapter
Rating:
Summary: Imagine the Future, Study the Past
Review: This Business of Television is a landmark volume in our practice (entertainment industry economic forecasting) for three reasons. Reason # 3: it is incredible that guys of this stature would take the time to compile such an essential and complete perspective of the television business. Goodenough, a seasoned entertainment lawyer, law professor, and a scholar pioneering the study of law and evolutionary biology, brings the structure and rigor, while Blumenthal, a prolific TV, multimedia, and online entertainment producer and businessman brings the been-there-done-that street savvy. Reason # 2: it is, after all, the business that pays for the content (the subscriber, pay-per-view, advertising, syndication, and the latest, e-commerce revenue models) and the content that drives the migration to new technology (streaming media webcasting and video-on-demand, interactive TV, and wireless). The clear understanding of the financial systems supporting television and video entertainment offered by Oliver and Howard in this book facilitates the modeling of future monetary transactions. Reason # 1: video programming spread from broadcast to cable and then to satellite in one generation. The last decade found it spreading to the PC via CD-ROM, DVD, and broadband Internet. In the future it will be found on our cell phones, wristwatches, car seat backs, and refrigerators. There will be innovations in business arrangements along the way, but those who cannot converse in the basic economics will be doomed. This segues into a jacket quote by Morty Morton, former producer of the Late Show with David Letterman, who remarked, "This Business of Television has gotten me through years of moderate success in the TV business. I'm now ready to burn the damn thing and open a restaurant."
Rating:
Summary: Imagine the Future, Study the Past
Review: This Business of Television is a landmark volume in our practice (entertainment industry economic forecasting) for three reasons. Reason # 3: it is incredible that guys of this stature would take the time to compile such an essential and complete perspective of the television business. Goodenough, a seasoned entertainment lawyer, law professor, and a scholar pioneering the study of law and evolutionary biology, brings the structure and rigor, while Blumenthal, a prolific TV, multimedia, and online entertainment producer and businessman brings the been-there-done-that street savvy. Reason # 2: it is, after all, the business that pays for the content (the subscriber, pay-per-view, advertising, syndication, and the latest, e-commerce revenue models) and the content that drives the migration to new technology (streaming media webcasting and video-on-demand, interactive TV, and wireless). The clear understanding of the financial systems supporting television and video entertainment offered by Oliver and Howard in this book facilitates the modeling of future monetary transactions. Reason # 1: video programming spread from broadcast to cable and then to satellite in one generation. The last decade found it spreading to the PC via CD-ROM, DVD, and broadband Internet. In the future it will be found on our cell phones, wristwatches, car seat backs, and refrigerators. There will be innovations in business arrangements along the way, but those who cannot converse in the basic economics will be doomed. This segues into a jacket quote by Morty Morton, former producer of the Late Show with David Letterman, who remarked, "This Business of Television has gotten me through years of moderate success in the TV business. I'm now ready to burn the damn thing and open a restaurant."
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